Greece - Kefalari, Zoodochos Pigi Church

Kefalari (nearby the town of Argos) is a well-known pilgrimage site for the Greek Orthodox people, due to the Zoodochos Pigi Church. The first church, built in 1634, was possibly the place where the miraculous image of the Holy Virgin was found.

The church was destroyed in 1918 after an explosion in the German ammunition depots. That first church was called “Panagia Kefalariotissa”, meaning “Holy Virgin of Kefalari”. Half of the church was inside a cave. The explosion was survived only by the picture of the Holy Virgin and the altar.

The people of Argos wanted to rebuild the church, and aided by the Greek immigrants of Argos in America, collected enough money to do it. In 1924, the new church was opened. In 1955 the bell tower of the church was built. In front of the church is a small pond, created by the waters of Erysinos.