Limnos Tourist Guide

The chapel of Agios Sozon in Fisini, is small but with a huge religious significance to Limnos, as it is dedicated to the patron saint of the island. Located literally at the ... end of the island, at the southeastern end, the chapel assembles pilgrims not only from Limnos but also emigrants coming far from all around the world, to bring offerings and make the sign of the cross whispering as the storm tossed seafarers, "Agie Sozo, save us!".

From the mid-18th century onwards, Lemnian ship-owners traveled to Constantinople, Smyrna and Alexandria, sailing through the Aegean and the Black Sea. By sailing to the Dardanelles, they were gazing at the island from afar and, as they were looking the small chapel of Agios Sozon at the edge of the rock, they were mustering courage to continue their trips.

The Lemnian sailors minded that Agios Sozon was a savior because he once saved castaways, by converting his cloak into a boat. So, when they faced the lighted vigil candles, they were making the sign of the cross and a wish, to keep them well enough to return unharmed to their island., The relatives of the emigrant sailors also appealed to the Saint, with prayers and offerings to bring back their own unharmed from seas and storms. Gradually, the saint of the Lemnian sailors, was established by the late 19th century to be honored as the patron saint of the island.

How, though, the Saint’s grace arrived in the extremity of Limnos, a 15-year-old shepherd from Lycaonia, Asia Minor which was martyred in the 3rd century for his faith? According to local tradition, the Church was built in this location after the suggestion of the Saint in a miraculous way.

Nearby, a resident of the neighboring village Fisini found an old icon of Agios Sozon. He brought it to the village, but the next morning the icon was found again on the cape close to the holy water. This was repeated several times until the Saint was presented at the shepherd and indicated the location he wanted to build a church to place his icon.

Since the early 20th century, the celebration in the memory of the patron saint was established with a three-day Pan-Lemnian feast.

On the feasts’ eve, believers from every villages, in whole caravans, assembled with their livestock at the southeastern edge of the island. In the evening, the service was taking place following a feast with lyres and violins. On the same day, after the solemn Holy Mass and the litany of the icon, the feast was continuing until the next morning. Up today, the inhabitants of Limnos and of dispersion maintain the old tradition, keep meeting every year at the feast to honor the saint and reviving memories of their childhood.

Ideal point for reveries and meditation as, from the courtyard of the temple, the gaze travels beyond Lesvos and the coasts of Asia Minor.