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 Corfu town - Saint Spyridon's Church
Saint Spyridon's church, which is
close to the Liston area of town, is the most famous and most visited church in
Corfu. It is
visited by thousands of tourists and Greek Orthodox pilgrims every year.
It is the resting place of one of the most important Greek Orthodox Saints,
Saint Spyridon.
Four times a year, his mummified body in a silver
and glass casket, is paraded around
Corfu
town. It is considered a blessing if you can kiss his slippered foot as he
passes. He is the Patron saint of the island, and almost every family has a
person who is named after the Patron saint.
The church,
with its wonderful icons and fabulous silver chandeliers and incense burners is
a tourist attraction, as well as being a Holy place of worship. The frescoes
and religious icons are particularly fine. The church was built in 1589.
Garitsa
The Byzantine church
of Saint Jason and Saint Sosipater stands near the South
shore of
Garitsa
Bay.
It was formerly a Monastic church. It is dedicated to the two saints who were
disciples of
Saint Paul,
who brought Christianity to
Corfu
around 70 AD. The church has some fine seventeenth century frescoes and icons.
It has Historical monument status.
Kanoni 
The early Christian Church
of the Palaeopolis. This early Christian church of the
Palaeopolis ( ancient town) is over the road from the entrance of Mon
Repos at Kannoni. It is in ruins, but the structure of the magnificent building
is clearly defined. It was built and rebuilt during the 12th, 15th
and 17th centuries. It had a timber roof, with mosaic floors
and many marble and stone sculptures. Decorative marble and statues were used
from nearby ancient
Temples
and Roman structures to decorate the church.
The long sides still feature eleven marble Lions
heads which date from the 4th century BC. Connections exist between
the church and Saint Kerkyra. She was the daughter of the Roman Governor of
Corfu,
who was put to death on his orders when she converted to Christianity in 70 AD.
Legend has it that a fabulous hord of treasure is hidden in the ancient tunnels
beneath the church and that it is guarded by Saint Kerkyra herself.
Church of
Pontikinisi @ Mouse Island
This small Byzantine
Pontikonisi church,
dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ, is shaped like a Greek cross, with
a dome in the centre. It is thought to date from the 11th century.
It is on the tiny islet of Pontikonisi, just across the water from Perama. Boat
trips visit the island daily.
Agios
Markos chape
In the picturesque village high on the mountain,
overlooking the bay at Ipsos, stands the chapel of Saint
Merkouris. It was
built around 1074 and it has the oldest frescoes that can be reliably dated in
Corfu.
Most of the frescoes and icons date from around the eleventh century.
Church of
Pantocrator
Above the
village
of
Agios Markos,
and far above the
bay
of
Ipsos,
is the
Church of
Pantocrator (Lord
of the Universe). It dates from 1577. It is well known for its full size
frescoes that date from the 16th century.
Kato
Korakiana.
Saint Nicolas' church in the
village
of
Kato Korakiana
is in ruins. It has Venetian frescoes from the 11th century to the
17th century.
Church of
Saint Michael on the Mountain
This
church of
Saint Michael
is above the
village
of
Kato Korakiana.
The church to be seen now is an extension of the original building. The icons
date from the 17th century, but the partial fresco dates from the 11th
century.
Vatos
Situated on the West coast of the island, near to
Ermones is the
church of
Saint Nicholas. It has
fragments of 13th century Byzantine frescoes. The
church
of
Saint George
is on top of a high steep hill overlooking Ermones bay. It was built in
1469 and has 14th century frescoes in the sanctuary.
Kamara -
Agios Deka
The church of Saint Michael and Saint Gabriel
is in the
village of
Kamara. It has 17thcentury frescoes and pieces of ancient
architecture which were incorporated into the building.
Church of
Saint Blaise (Vlasios)
The Vlasios church now has
part of the roof missing, but the walls of the apse contain interesting
architectural features, and seventeenth century frescoes.
Orthodox
Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Spiliotissa.
In the old town area of
Corfu,Virgin Spiliotissa near
the old harbour, is this impressive Orthodox cathedral. It was first built
in 1577, but did not become a cathedral till 1841. It has neo-classical
icons.
Church of
Saint Antony and Saint Andrew
In the centre of the Liston area of
Corfu town, the Saint Antony and Saint Andrew
church is on
Nikophorou
Theotoki Street. It is
one of the oldest churches in
Corfu town, and dates from the early 14th century.
Church
of the Resurrection
Dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul,
this church stands in the grounds of the
Greek
Orthodox
Cemetery at
Garitsa. It was built in 1840, and icons were brought here from other
churches and monasteries in
Corfu.
Church
of the Blessed Virgin Kassiopitra- Kanoni
This village is near the tip of the headland at Kanoni. It was dedicated
to the Blessed Virgin after a
16th century miracle cured a blind man from Kassiopi.
Church
of the Blessed Virgin Kassiopitra- Kassiopi
Kassiopi is a beautiful fishing village on the
North
East coast of
Corfu.The church of the Blessed Virgin was built
by the Turks in 1537 on the site of a much older Holy building. The Venetians
rebuilt it as a Catholic church, and then it was returned to the Greek Orthodox
tradition in the 17th century. It has links with the previous church
because of the 16th century miracle.
Roman
Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholic
Church is at the top of
Solomon
Street. It has regular services of
worship.
Anglican
Church
The thriving church of the
English community of
Corfu.
It is situated in the middle of
Gildford
Street in
Corfu
town. It has regular services and meetings.
Jewish
Synagogue
There is only one remaining Synagogue
in Corfu. It is only used on special occasions and celebrations
of Holy days. It can be found at
Velissariou
Street, in the old Jewish quarter
of
Corfu
town.
For more info on Jewish community in
Corfu
click here: Corfu Jewish
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Corfu churches
