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το εκκλησάκι του Άη Γιάννη του Θεολόγου |
Ο θρύλος λέει πως ο Άγιος παρουσιαζόταν συχνά πυκνά στον κάμπο της Καρδάμαινας.
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το μονοπάτι που επιλέξαμε εμείς, από το Δίκαιο κι όχι από την Καρδάμαινα |
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στο δρόμο για το Θεολόγο του Βουνού |
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μάντρα (για σημάδι) |

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Λίγο ακόμα |
Κείμενο: Οι εκκλησίες της Καρδάμαινας του π. Ιωάννη Περαντωνάκη
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όταν δείτε αυτό το σταυρό είστε πολύ κοντά |
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το εξωτερικό της εκκλησίας |
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πολλά αρχαία αρχιτεκτονικά μέλη βρίσκονται έξω από το ναό |
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το εσωτερικό της εκκλησίας με αγιογραφίες, διακρίνεται η
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οι 9 πεζοπόροι μόλις έφτασαν στον προορισμό τους |
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η θέα από τον Άη Γιάννη τον Θεολόγο |

SAINT JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN OF THE MOUNTAIN (KOS)
Location: east of Mount Dikaios
The little chapel of St. John the Theologian
Many times, Aspasia herself could not understand how she found herself up on the mountain and how she returned below. On one such occasion, guided by a vision, she tied a handkerchief at a spot on the mountain. It was the place indicated to her by the Saint, so that the villagers would come and dig. This happened after 1920. They went twice, dug, and found nothing. On their way back, they scolded the little girl, thinking she was making fun of them, but she insisted. The third time, they found the entrance to a small catacomb.
(The path we chose was from Dikaios and not from Kardamena)
(On the road to St. John the Theologian of the Mountain)
Since then, every year on September 25th, on the eve of the Saint’s feast of the Metastasis, many people from Kardamena climb the mountain, celebrate Vespers and the Divine Liturgy, and at dawn descend back to their village.
Remarkably, although the ascent is quite difficult, never—not once—has anyone been injured, as we say “not even a nosebleed,” and nothing untoward has ever happened to any pilgrim. The paths, however, have deteriorated due to rain and neglect of the surrounding area. The monastery is not visible, as it is a catacomb, and having an experienced companion is always useful. During the feast, pilgrims light fires on the mountain to keep warm or cook over the embers, while their fellow villagers light fires on the beach to greet them.
(Stone wall used as a landmark)
Tradition
According to tradition, preserved over the centuries, the chapel is the work of a Koan monk, Arsenios Skinouris, who lived around the 11th century AD.
Inside the chapel, there are several frescoes, though it is difficult to discern the faces of most of the Saints depicted, except for the image of the Virgin Mary and St. John.
(Text: The Churches of Kardamena by Fr. Ioannis Perantonakis)
(When you see this cross, you are very close.)
Our Experience
This is one way to reach St. John the Theologian of the Mountain (or “Thologos,” as Mr. Chatzivasileiou mentions in his History of Kos).
We were nine hikers who decided to look for St. John on our return from Christos on Mount Dikaios. About one kilometer before reaching Christos, there is a large rock on the right, and from there begins a slope with the first arrow indicating the way to St. John the Theologian.
(The exterior of the chapel)
At the start of the route—admittedly quite steep—there was some rudimentary signage, a few arrows that reassured us we were on the right track. After a certain point, however, the path and the arrows disappeared, the route became much steeper and more dangerous, and we personally would certainly have given up (at one point we truly did not know where we were going) had we not by chance met some hunters, who pointed us in the right direction.
(Many ancient architectural fragments lie outside the church.)
The detour route must have taken about four hours, and by common admission, all of us surpassed our limits and endurance. The little chapel of St. John the Theologian rewarded us for the exhaustion we felt: the view takes your breath away, the catacomb’s location is unique, and there are several ancient fragments outside the chapel.
This experience is engraved in my memory as one of the most difficult yet most fascinating hikes I have ever done.
(The interior of the chapel with frescoes, showing the Virgin Mary and St. John)
(The nine hikers upon reaching their destination)
(The view from St. John the Theologian of the Mountain)