Koufonisia Church of Agios Georgios

Location: Chora

The Church of Agios Georgios (Saint George) is one of the main landmarks in Koufonisia since the saint is the patron of the island. Located in the heart of Chora, it bears the typical features of Cycladic architecture, with whitewashed walls and a polygonal blue dome that sparkles under the Aegean sun. A beautiful bell tower also complements the structure.

The chapel was constructed in 1870 by craftsmen from Santorini, who used building materials from their native land in order to make it more solid. Blocks of marble and pillars from an adjacent Byzantine church that used to stand by the cemetery were incorporated into the chapel’s entrance and courtyard as well. On the inside, visitors will find an impressive altarpiece that dates from 1890 and an icon of Saint George, which bears the signatures of six smugglers who financed the construction of the church. Moreover, part of the saint's relics have been donated to this church.

The feast day of Saint George is one of the most important and colorful festivals in Koufonisia. It is celebrated on April 23rd (or on Easter Monday if the 23rd of April falls during Lent), and on that day, one of the residents carries the icon of the saint around the island accompanied by caique boats. The procession ends in Chora with a traditional feast, where there is plenty of folk music and dancing, as well as copious quantities of wine and local delicacies.