Five strange churches of Greece

From one end to the other in Greece, on every trip you take, you will encounter churches and monasteries. In mountains, coasts and even built inside rocks, many of the churches and small monasteries of Greece stand out not only for their history but also for their architecture. They offer the visitor moments of devotion and tranquility, while at the same time, they inspire awe in anyone who finds themselves there. We singled out and present today five of the most strange churches in Greece that are worth visiting at least once in your life.

Peloponnese: The church of Agia Theodora with 17 trees on its roof!

Five strange churches of Greece

Panagia Kakaviotissa church, Lemnos Island

First on the list is the unique church of Greece which has no roof. It is a very special and unique outdoor church that you will not often come across. Panagia Kakaviotissa church is located on Mount Kakavos (from which it took its name) and was built around 1,300. In reality, it has only walls as it is built inside a cave, among the imposing rocks, and has no roof. Monks had taken refuge there for a while to escape from Turkish raids.

Agia Theodora church, Arcadia

One of the most famous churches in Greece and not without reason. Agia Theodora church is of course known for the fact that it has 17 trees on its roof, something you won’t find anywhere else in the world. The church of Agia Theodora is located in the Peloponnese and specifically in Arcadia. This church has been included in the Guinness Book of Records as a “wonderful nave”. There are many stories and legends that accompany this particular church with trees that emerge from within it reaching 20 meters. The trunks of the trees tear the roof while you don’t see roots but they are watered by the running water that runs right next to them.

Agia Fotini church, Mantineia

Agia Fotini church in Mantinea is characterized not only as one of the most peculiar churches in Greece but also in the whole world. You can already see it when you look at it from the outside. This is due on the one hand to the diversity of materials but also to the particular architecture it has. Essentially, the way it is built makes it impossible to classify it into any particular architecture. The way it has been constructed makes it combines elements of ancient Greece with the Christian spirit. It was founded in 1969 and inaugurated in 1978. Its uniqueness is equally great inside.

Panagia Parigoritissa church, Arta

In Arta, there is also one of the most peculiar churches in Greece. This is the Panagia Parigoritissa church. Its particular characteristic lies in its architecture and specifically in its dome. In reality, the dome of this particular church seems to be floating by choice of the master builder of the time who undertook its construction. The goal was to keep the dome, dominated by the mosaic of Pantocrator, visible from the entrance. And he succeeded by placing the columns in a specific way inside.

Church of the Ascension, Attica

The last but equally strange church in Greece is located in Attica. It is not very well known to the general public and is located in Mount Ymittos. You will hear it being called “Trypti Church”. Essentially, this church is built inside a cave and the exterior church of the Ascension of Jesus is actually an open chapel in a hollow cave. It is always well-maintained and clean and the residents of the area who take care of it make sure of that. Its construction is such that it is always open to everyone every day and hour, all year round. It’s a great opportunity to visit it!