Dean Christakos« Overview of Cargese, Corsica | Main | The Summer Spike In Gas Prices »
March 14, 2006
The Greek Church of Cargese
The Greek church in Cargese is an interesting mix of Latin and Byzantine elements. The Greek community of Cargese, which is about 300 people or so, worships here when the priest holds liturgy, which does not occur that often, as the priest is old. One of the largest holidays for the Cargese Greeks is the feast of St. Spyridon on December 12th.
The church interior is typically Byzantine, though the iconostasis has some very westernized iconography:
Some of the frescoes in the back of the church tell an interesting story...
One of the interesting elements of the church is a Byzantine-style depiction of the story of the Cargese Greeks:
(No, I didn't use a flash when taking this picture so that I wouldn't damage the fresco, so please don't get angry at me, anyone from the Corsica board of tourism who is currently reading this.)
Looking at this section-by-section, the top depicts the Greeks on a ship, journeying to Paomia, Corsica, with the priest bringing the community's icons with them in 1675:
Next, the Greeks are expelled by native Corsicans from the town of Vico and the Greeks take refuge in Ajaccio:
Astute observes will note that the depiction of the Greeks never contains any Greek women, though presumably the Greeks thought to bring their wives with them when emigrating to Corsica.
Finally, when the French take control of Corsica, Cargese is granted to the Greeks, led by Georges Stephanopoli (Stephanopoulos).
Posted by Dean at March 14, 2006 10:32 AM
Comments
It's wonderful! Are from Corsica?
Posted by: Nikolia Ioannidou at October 24, 2006 7:59 AM
It's wonderful! Are from Corsica?
Posted by: Nikolia Ioannidou at October 24, 2006 8:00 AM
It's wonderful! Are from Corsica?
Posted by: Nikolia Ioannidou at October 24, 2006 8:01 AM
It's wonderful! Are from Corsica?
Posted by: Nikolia Ioannidou at October 24, 2006 8:01 AM
It's wonderful! Are from Corsica?
No, I'm from the USA, but I had read about the Greeks of Cargese and wanted to see the community for myself. Unfortunately, the town is kind of quiet and sleepy in March. I want to visit again for the town's feast dayof St. Spyridon on December 12th.
Posted by: Dean at October 25, 2006 11:43 PM