Church of Agia Paraskevi at Pigouniana 
Inside Margarites Gorge, below the village of Margarites, stands the Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi. The church can be reached by following a dirt road from the settlement of Pigouniana.
It is a small, single-nave church covered by a barrel vault. Traces of frescoes dating from the Venetian period survive in its interior. Its secluded location among the rich vegetation of the gorge creates a particularly peaceful setting.
Saint Paraskevi is traditionally regarded as the protector of eyesight, and many churches dedicated to her were built near springs. According to popular religious tradition, people suffering from eye problems washed their eyes with water from these springs while seeking the Saint’s help.
A freshwater spring flows next to the church, while the ruins of an old watermill can be seen a few metres farther down the gorge. The presence of the spring and the watermill recalls the importance that flowing water once had for the inhabitants, agriculture and rural economy of the surrounding area.
Source: Manolis Chetzogiannakis
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Additional Info
- Location: Rethymnon Prefecture
- Type: Church
- Accessibility: Dirt track
