Ag. Anargyros, Episkopi on Hydra Island
The Greek name, Anargyros, (female: Anargyri) is celebrated each year on the 1st July (or as close to it as possible). On a small family estate in the centre of the village of Episkopi there is a chapel that takes the name Anargyros and the family home is opened for visitors, friends, local and from abroad, just for this special occasion.
From the Greek term á¼€νάργυρος (anargyros) meaning "poor, incorruptible", derived from Greek á¼€ (a), a negative prefix, combined with ἄργυρος (argyros) meaning "silver". This term referred to saints who did not accept payment for their services.
On Saturday 4th July 2020 at 7am, I joined the happy group on the second boat heading west with the newly risen sun at our backs for the quick wake-me-up trip to Palamida.
From there it was by foot, walking inland through the generous shade of the pines to Episkopi. Forty-five minutes later we were greeted by our charming host Sotiris Iliadis for the celebration of the name day of Ag. Anargyros.
Sotiris finished the renovation of the chapel of Agios Anargyros at his family's Episkopi summer home in 2018. He held his first open house to coincide with the chapel's name day in 2019. This year, nearly twice as many people joined together for what I suspect will become a hugely popular annual event.
Papa Theodoros conducted the service. As with all Greek Orthodox church services, the congregation come and go, milling around, popping in and out with the ringing of the bell to call everyone to order for the main blessing, sharing of bread and the carrying of the Saint's Icon around the chapel.
Traditionally, name days will include open house hospitality by the host. Sotiris invites so many of his international friends, as well as many Hydriots, that his open house has a far more cosmopolitan feel than most. (Having said that, non-orthodox guests make way for parishioners inside the tiny chapel.)
When the church service ends, everyone eats their blessed bread and enjoys tiny cups of sweet Greek coffee washed down with a traditional shot of Mastica. It seems odd fare to have at ten in the morning but as there is a least one name day celebrated each day of the year, the Greeks are used to it and of course, Sotiris' non-orthodox guests are not going to flout tradition!
The festive bunting, the assortment of tables and chairs gleaned from every room in the house, the laughter of children, barking of dogs combined with voices from Italy, France, German & the UK joining the cacophony of Greeks catching up with news, made me feel nostalgic for the simple beauty and sense of belonging that village fetes bring remembered fondly from my childhood.
It might seem a long way to go to celebrate a church service, but even for Hydriots, this is a rare opportunity to enjoy exploring the intriguing summer home of Sotiris' family. Inside the house, there is a history of the family as well as a display of the now well-known photos taken during the filming of 'The Boy on a Dolphin' starring Sophia Loren, when the cast and crew were hosted by Madame Pouri who was one of Sotiris' ancestors.
And everyone is welcome to take photos from the flat roof of the only Art Deco house on Hydra. The new house was built in 1935, just below the old building, by Sotirios Papastratos with the renown architect Kyprianos Biris.
The views from every terrace and roof are delightful. And looking down the length of the valley, it's surprising to see so many pocket-handkerchief size fields, all neatly harvested by July.
Please visit the What's On Calendar
for next years date!
