Detail of a fresco inside the church: the Archangel Michael
The Church of Panagia Porphyra is located on the southeastern part of the island of Agios Achilleios, among the ruins of an old monastery. The ruined cells and buildings of the monastery surround the small church, which, as the earliest inscription of the monastery indicates, dates back to about 1524, the year in which the first construction phase of the monument was completed.
On the penultimate Saturday of November, on the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, an evening service is held in the church with the participation of worshippers from various parts of Greece, most of whom wear traditional costumes. The atmosphere is deeply solemn and the fact that the service is held by candlelight -as there is no electricity- contributes to this. The celebration continues the next day with a dance and a tour of the village of Agios Achilleios.
In the 360-photo illustration below, drag and hold the mouse to see a view of the interior of the church.
Clicking on the arrow at the bottom of the 360-photo you can see and read information about details in the murals.
Detail1: Panagia Porphyra
Detail2: Representation of the dedicatee