Agios Spyridonas

At the end of the village’s northern beach, a pretty little bridge leads to the islet where Agios Spyridonas stands, the best-known image of the island. Next to the church is a ruined windmill. The bridge was built around 1954–1955; before that, villagers crossed by stepping on the rocks.

The legend

They say the church was to be built elsewhere and dedicated to Agios Nikolaos, patron of sailors. While the builder gathered materials on the shore opposite, an old man appeared to him three times and asked him to build it on the islet. When asked who he was, he answered that he was Saint Spyridon. So the church was built there and took his name.

A little history

The church was begun around 1850 on the initiative of the Grigorakis family from the Mani, finished in 1858 and renovated in 1862. It was consecrated on 9 July, and Saint Spyridon has been the island’s patron ever since: every year on 9 July all of Elafonisos celebrates.

Inside

The iconostasis is of Maltese stone, with icons from 1870 and 1882. The sanctuary keeps an 18th-century icon with many saints in five bands. A large icon of Saint George stands out, painted in Asia Minor in 1921 and saved, as its inscription says, as a keepsake of leaving it behind.

Good to know

It is the finest spot in the village for sunset. If you go inside, wear something over your swimsuit.