June 23, 2017

A Chapel Dedicated to Saint Paisios the Athonite Built Inside a 300 Year Old Tree


A chapel dedicated to Saint Paisios the Athonite was built inside the hollow of a 300 year old tree. This beautiful chapel is located 22 kilometers north of Konitsa in the village of Agia Varvara, which Saint Paisios himself would pass by in his younger days as he went to the nearby village of Amarantos, where he would do carpentry work and repair houses.

This oak tree had suffered externally through several destructions and fires. Travelers would stop here, and they would go inside the tree and light a fire in order to warm up.

However, thanks to the initiative of a native of Agia Varvara, Harry Poretsis, the tree was saved and made into a pilgrimage site of Saint Paisios.


The weak yet blessed tree was covered inside with stones from the area and it became a tree-chapel. The chapel is 2.10 meters in height and inside is an icon of Saint Paisios, a candle-stand and an oil lamp.

It should be noted also that Saint Kosmas the Aitolos passed by this village, and about 100 meters from the tree-chapel there is a chapel dedicated to Saint Kosmas.