Panagia Panaxiotissa

a monument of the 10th Century

In a quiet and secluded location, which contrasts with the adjacent steep mountain Varasova among pines, olive trees and cypresses, two kilometers north of the Community Gavrolimnis, saved the church of Virgin Mary, is well known by the name "Panaxiotissa" . The epithet of the Virgin "Panaxiotissa" is unique in the Orthodox world and probably means "that claimed everything." From the constant silting the temple is now below ground level by half a meter. As for the dating of the monument in 1935 Orlandos dated in the second half of the 10th century. Later in 1961 returned with newer benchmarks and dated more precisely at the end of the same century.

Considering amid the realization that the marble sculptures of the central apse from senior members and calculate and landscaping around the temple, we conclude that the temple of Panaxiotissas built on the ruins of an early Christian basilica, which was indeed large dimensions.

Evinos River

In a quiet and secluded location, which contrasts with the adjacent steep mountain Varasova among pines, olive trees and cypresses, two kilometers north of the Community Gavrolimnis, saved the church of Virgin Mary, is well known by the name "Panaxiotissa" .

The epithet of the Virgin "Panaxiotissa" is unique in the Orthodox world and probably means "that claimed everything." From the constant silting the temple is now below ground level by half a meter. As for the dating of the monument in 1935 Orlandos dated in the second half of the 10th century. Later in 1961 returned with newer benchmarks and dated more precisely at the end of the same century.

Considering amid the realization that the marble sculptures of the central apse from senior members and calculate and landscaping around the temple, we conclude that the temple of Panaxiotissas built on the ruins of an early Christian basilica, which was indeed large dimensions.

History...

The name of the municipality Halkios came in a view from the ancient coastal town of Aetolia Halkida. The name of the city is believed to have originated from the vulture Chalkindi who lived in the area or from the fact that the area has the color of copper. For the location and the name of different views. Homer in the Iliad refers to it as "Anchialos" ie seaside town of Aetolia. Strabo mentions it as "ypochalkida" city that is built on the foothills of Chalkis. Polybius calls it Chalkeia without specifying the place.

Culture Heritage

In the Municipality Chalkeia rescued many monuments. Chapels great historical and cultural interest, the caves of prehistoric times, castles and many other monuments of particular interest. In the south the steep side of the sacred mountain of mainland Greece, Varasova, at an altitude of about 80 meters from the sea opened spacious cave rock shelters within which preserved Byzantine organized ascetic complex ruins. Local tradition has preserved the place name "Ai Nikolas" and the traditional religious consciousness of the inhabitants of the surrounding villages maintained the sanctity of space, in the shape of a stone altar - iconostasis, the depth of the cave.

In 1991, a research team of Ioannina University began a systematic investigation, identification and excavation of the site. The cave of Agios Nikolaos is located in the west of the village of Lower Basilica. East of the settlement systematic excavation of the University of Ioannina brought to light, on the hill of Agia Triada, huge basilica surrounded by Byzantine and late Classical wall.

The cave of Agios Nikolaos is the only such Egkleistra discovered in Greece and despite the ruins, where it is located, impresses with the organization that seems to possess, the fortified nature and duration of operation. The fact that preserved an important part of the church and in satisfactory condition the tank, shows that the cave was abandoned much later than the other Agios Nikolaos, located on the south side of Varasova.

On the northeast side of Varasova stands the hermitage of the Holy Fathers. Inside the cave are kept in some places, ruined walls, built with stones and bricks. The cave was painted, but its long abandonment destroyed most coatings. Today only four performances have been badly damaged and large pictorial interest. Also the coastal hill of Agia Triada, east of the village of Lower Basilica, preserved ancient walled city.