The "Proskinitari" (worship spot) of Saint Spyridon

Saint Spyridonas worship point at the east end of Valtos Beach at Parga, at the bottom of the stone path from the Castle to the beach. It was an old vow and I was only able to fulfil it after sixteen years. Thank God and St. Spyridonas for that. It is accurately aligned with the old church of St. Spyridonas, which is at the other end of the Valtos Beach.

Another view of the "proskinitari" (worship spot) with the castle of Parga directly above it.

A closer view of the "proskynitari" (pronounced: /proskini'tari/=worship point), bathed in incense smoke. You can see the "kandili" (pronounced: /kan'dili/ = lantern) lit by some pious passerby. When people come to such places and they feel like it, they first light the "kandili", then they light some round carbon tablets and they put incense on them. Many people leave the necessary materials to keep the lantern going. The necessary materials are: olive oil, wick, carbon tablets called "karvounakia" (pron. /karvou'nakia/), matches and sometimes candles. Also incense, in order to incense the place when you pray to God.

   
My wife Georgia while attending to the cleaning of the proskinitari and the lighting of the lantern and frankincense.
And here are the necessary tools.
And a newer phtograph after the replacement of the marble cross, which had been broken due to the fall of a tall tree from the hill slope above the road leading to the Castle.
Two local women just a little higher on the road from the proskinitari selling figs to passersby. Here they have averted their faces to avoide being photographed. After I had taken the picture the one in the blue dress demanded payment for the photograph. Such is their business capacity.
Here the tap halfway up the road from the proskinitari to the Castle. It serves us well every time we wash the proskinitari, because there is no water supply anywhere closer, so I have to carry water in a bucket.

 

Last update:  05-02-2012
 
   
Copyright © D.A.Damianopoulos