The Miracle of Saint Theodora

Peloponnese, Agia Theodora
agia_theodoraMaybe miracle is a big word, but we must recognize that what happens in Arcadia with the church of Saint Theodora, or Aghia Theodora, is just not normal. From its roof 17 trees come out, some of considerable size, but their roots do not interfere with the interior of the church, nor with its walls. Seeing is believing!

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Peloponnese, Agia TheodoraThe church of Agia Theodora [37.35381,21.97930] is located about 30 km west of Megalopolis and it is a deviation of approximately 25 km from the main road.
The small Byzantine church of the eleventh century is a place of religious pilgrimage, but also attracts many curious people who just want to admire this oddity of nature. Indeed, from the roof of the church these huge logs come out without passing from the inside … bah … 😉
The legend says that deadly wounded, the last words of Theodora, a brave woman who fought alongside men the bandits who terrorized her land, were “Let my body become a church, my blood a river and my hair a forest” . So his fellow villagers built a church on her grave beside the river and shortly after the trees began to grow on the roof.
Peloponnese, Agia TheodoraPeloponnese, Agia Theodora
Peloponnese, Agia Theodora
Peloponnese, Agia TheodoraPeloponnese, Agia TheodoraPeloponnese, Agia Theodora
Peloponnese, Agia Theodora
Peloponnese, Agia Theodora

Exactly opposite the church starts a path that after less than 200 meters along the river brings you to a restaurant with a fully-operational watermill. The flour for sale may not be very useful on the motorhome, but you can buy wonderful bread, baked in the wood oven, from the restaurant for one euro and a half per kilo.
Peloponnese, Agia TheodoraPeloponnese, Agia TheodoraPeloponnese, Agia Theodora


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