Monday 11 May 2009

Graveyard

The beautiful Byzantine church of St Nicholas in Kiriakoselia, a village in the Apokoronas region, retains a small very well kept cemetery within its yards. The village itself has almost been wiped off the map, but the graves are still lovingly tended by the families whose ancestors are buried here. The actual church was built in the middle of the 10th centruy, and is one of the most intact remnants of this time period in Greece.

CIMG6999 st nicholas kiriakoselia hania chania
st nicholas kiriakoselia hania chania
st nicholas kiriakoselia hania chania st nicholas kiriakoselia hania chania

The most notable part of this particular family tomb is the photographs of the older generation, wearing the trdaditional Cretan costume. The fact that these people were photographed shows their important status in the society of the time.

Greek tombs are never very elaborate. They usually state only the names and dates of the deceased and contain a small closed box where photos, candles and incense can be placed, as well as oil for lighting a lamp in memory of the dead. The handles on this tomb are there simply to make it easier to lift the marble to add another member of the family when it is their turn...

8 comments:

  1. A wonderful old church.
    Thanks for explaining the graves. Handles! Very practical.

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  2. The narrative is reat an the pics are superb....

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  3. A wonderful way to learn about a place!

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  4. beautiful church, lovely images and wonderful commentary.

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  5. Wow These Pictures Are Really Very Soothing And Nice !!! Great Shots

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  6. Somehow the graveyard fitted very well with surroundings. I hope it doesn't disappear completely.

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  7. We are coming to Crete, renting a villa and will have the whole family with us. I am familiar with the Vrisses area and are staying on a mountain close by. We were there at Easter two years ago and fell in love with the island. My father was cretan and of course the place is especially meaningful for me. So tempted to buy a place but Canada is for away.....

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  8. Nice post. The church in the midst of greenery looks great.

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