Saint Arsenios is a small Byzantine chapel, on the edge of the peninsula between the areas of Agni and Nissaki.
The natural beauty of the place was a source of inspiration for the famous British writer, Lawrence Durrell, who lived in the area during the interwar period and loved Gimari and its inhabitants.
The small church looks like a natural continuation of the rocks.
The stone chapel is accessible from the rocks. You can also reach the chapel from a path, a little further away at the picturesque village of Kalami. This is a beautiful walk from the renowned “White House“, which in summer can be an ideal choice for hiking, unless you choose the fast and cool choice of reaching it by boat.
According to local tradition, on the spot where it is now built and between the rocks, the icon of Saint Arsenios was found.
The locals took Saint Arsenios icon to the Kentroma area to protect it.
After a while the icon disappeared and the locals found it again in the same place where they had previously found it; between the rocks. For this reason the church was built at this point.
This hidden church does not leave any visitor unmoved, which is why everyone leaves their mark by writing in the guest books that exist in their simple recess.
The church and its history dates back to before 1600 and was built of local stone and porcelain. It was repaired and its roof was rebuilt in 1986 by the Cultural Association of Gimari which is still making significant efforts for its restoration and organization at the site of religious and cultural events.
Source
Πολιτιστικός Σύλλογος Γιμαρίου. “Σημεία ενδιαφέροντος”, http://www.gimari.gr/index.php/el/%CF%83%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CE%B5%CE%BD%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%82
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