* AGHIA SOTIRA
The church of Sotira is located on the Peristian side of the Perista-Perko-Platanos border.

It, too, was constructed by Daniel the monk, who donated the little church to the Ambelakiotissa monastery. Upon his death, monastery leaders appointed a three-member committee to oversee the upkeep and renovation of the little structure.

The church was built in 1910, and remains in decent condition today. Its icons are dated after 1900.

The monk dedicated his entire life to the construction and maintenance of his two churches, specifically Sotira and Profitis Elias.
Daniel also constructed a small guest house near the church, for visiting villagers and travelers from afar.
One
story holds that some mule-drivers once brought themselves and their animals into Daniel's church to escape a raging storm.

When a villager told Daniel what had happened, expecting him to be upset for the sacrilege that had been committed, Daniel calmly replied that "it pleases Jesus to house animals in His home, for they once housed Him in theirs."

This church was passed over to the monastery at Kozitsa for maintenance and care after Daniel's death.

A church log book records the dates and events surrounding the establishment of Sotira: it was inaugurated on Wednesday, June 9, 1921. The church housed the remains of St. Clement (Jan. 23), St. Efstratios (Dec. 13), and St. Mamandos (Sept. 2). The inauguration was made official by the presence of Bishop of Nafpaktos-Evritania region Ambrosios. Other priests present were N. Papageorgiou, I. Kotsarelis, A. Tsipouras, and Papasavas.

As with most of the other churches in Perista, this structure was also built upon an older church, which had the same dedication (Metamorfosi tou Sotiros). The existence of an older structure is evidenced by the recent discovery of a rock in the area bearing the date 1898. The building itself and its surroundings were renovated in 1990-2, under the direction of the Church Council of Perista:Nikos B. Kefaliakos,G.I. Thanasoulis and Kostas I. Lois.

The festival (panigiri) for the Church of Sotira is celebrated in Perista on the main square "platia"on August 6.

The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

"You were transfigured on the mount,
Christ God revealing Your glory to Your disciples,
insofar as they could comprehend.
Illuminate us sinners also with Your everlasting light,
through the intercessions of the Theotokos.
Giver of light, glory to You."

     - (Grave Tone)  -  Apolytikion of the Holy Transfiguration
*THE GREEK FLAG and The NATIONAL ANTHEM *MONUMENT FOR PERISTIAN WAR HEROS *ELEMENTARY SCHOOL *THE OLD ST. ATHANASIOS *THE NEW ST.ATHANASIOS *AGHIA PARASKEVI & CEMETERY *PANAGIA *GHIOI APOSTOLOI *AGHIA TRIADA *AGHIOS IOANNIS *PROFITIS ELIAS *AGHIA SOTIRA *AGHIA MARINA *AGHIOS ATHANASIOS VRISI 

Copyright©Perista.net 2002-10