Large churches are awesome. Like churches built in the steepest of places. Or monasteries with a special history and architecture. All these comprise the image of Christianity in Greece from one end to the other. Among them, are the ones that stand out for their peculiarity. One of them is the only chapel in Greece without a roof. Lemnos is the island on which to find.
Panagia Kakaviotissa, is the only church without a roof in Greece
This picturesque, unique chapel is located on the top of a mountain in Lemnos. Its architecture makes it stand out. It is located under a cave and has no roof. Panagia Kakaviotissa is the only church in Greece without a roof. Its name is taken from the mountain Kakavos in which it is located, 4 km southeast of the port of Myrina.
The history of the small church that has a cave as its roof begins in 1300 when it was built. There, hermit monks chose to exercise their faith, while, to this day, it is a point of absolute silence and unique aesthetics. In 1305, the chapel came to the property of the monastery of Megisti Lavra, when monks from Agios Efstratios, who belonged to the monastery, settled in the chapel to protect themselves from the raids of Turks.
It was then that, under this rocky balcony the hermits built the small temple for the monks to perform the eucharist. Over the years the monks passed away and the last of them decided to leave Lemnos and go to Mount Athos.
What the tradition says
Tradition has it that, before leaving for Mount Athos the last monk found a resident of Lemnos island from the Mumtzis family, who had his farm nearby and entrusted him with the painting of the Virgin Mary, called “The Rose that never withers away”. The monk asked the shepherd to place the picture in the temple of every “Holy Tuesday” (during the Holy Week before Easter) in order have a divine service. Then, according to popular legend, the hermit entered the sea, opened his robe, which became a boat and left for Mount Athos. Young monks did not come to the chapel, which remained as an attraction of the island. The chapel of the “Panagia of Kakaviotissa” is a retreat for those who want to isolate themselves and pray.
Access to the temple is via a path leading to the top of Mount Kakavos.
The chapel of Agios Paisios located in a tree
Frequently Asked Questions
Panagia Kakaviotissa, the only chapel in Greece without a roof, is located on the top of Mount Kakavos on the island of Lemnos, approximately 4 km southeast of the port of Myrina.
Panagia Kakaviotissa was built in 1300 as a small temple for hermit monks. In 1305, it came under the ownership of the Megisti Lavra monastery when monks from Agios Efstratios settled there to protect themselves from Turkish raids.
Panagia Kakaviotissa has no roof because it is built under a natural cave located on Mount Kakavos. The cave itself serves as the roof of the chapel, making it a unique architectural structure built directly into the mountain.
According to tradition, before leaving for Mount Athos, the last monk entrusted a painting of the Virgin Mary called 'The Rose that never withers away' to a shepherd from the Mumtzis family. The legend states that the hermit then entered the sea, opened his robe which became a boat, and sailed to Mount Athos.
Yes, Panagia Kakaviotissa remains accessible to visitors via a path leading to the top of Mount Kakavos. The chapel serves as a retreat for those seeking isolation and prayer, and is a notable tourist attraction on the island of Lemnos.
