Ιερός Ναός Αγίας Κυριακής: A Spiritual Haven in Alexandroupoli

The Holy Church of Agia Kyriaki stands as a spiritual and historical landmark in the heart of Alexandroupoli. Founded in 1965 by Metropolitan Joachim Kaviris, the church is located in an area known as the "old airport," a nod to the city's early days after the Asia Minor Catastrophe when the area served as both a train station and the first airport. Agia Kyriaki is considered a refugee church, housing two treasured, miraculous icons from the unforgotten homelands. The first is Panagia Apolloniaditissa from Apolloniada, near Bursa; the second is Agia Kyriaki, brought from Ainos, a neighboring city. These icons, brought to Alexandroupoli by refugees in 1922, symbolize the community's resilience and deep connection to their ancestral roots. The icon of Panagia Apolloniaditissa was originally in three pieces and was first housed in the Church of Agios Nikolaos until Agia Kyriaki was built.The church celebrates its patron saint, Agia Kyriaki, on July 7th, with a procession of the miraculous icon through the city streets the evening before. The church also commemorates the Presentation of Jesus on February 2nd and the memory of St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol of Crimea, on June 11th. Visitors are often captivated by the church's stunning facade, adorned with intricate designs showcasing Greek ecclesiastical architecture. Inside, the serene atmosphere invites reflection amidst the city's hustle and bustle. The vibrant frescoes and ornate iconography narrate biblical stories and the lives of saints, offering insight into the region's rich religious history.