“Barn for livestock” sounds disrespectful doesn’t it? Yet that’s precisely what \u03a3\u03c0\u03ae\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf \u0391\u03b3\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u039d\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03ac\u03bf\u03c5 once was.
The Cave Church of Saint Nicholas is a unique and mystical site. It is located on the Acropolis of Rhodes. This location is not directly connected to the ancient archaeological remains.
The story of \u03a3\u03c0\u03ae\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf \u0391\u03b3\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u039d\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03ac\u03bf\u03c5 takes a turn in 1947. A farmer discovered the icon of St. Nicholas inside the cavern. This discovery led to the cave’s transformation into a church. The church was dedicated to St. Nicholas.
Before its sacred transformation, the cave served a very different purpose. Until 1947 farmers used it as a barn for their livestock. The Acropolis was mostly destroyed. Only some basements and foundations remained. The whole hill was used until 1947 by the farmers as an auxiliary pasture.
Speculation surrounds the cave’s origin. Some believe it was part of the Nymphaeum. The Nymphaeum was on the other side of the road. It was transformed into a church much later. There are no remains to prove this theory. The soft rock made digging caves easy. This means that the cave could have been dug for another purpose. It existed before becoming a church. The cave might even be partly natural.
The rock is Quaternary sedimentary rock. This includes the formation of tufa by limestone-rich spring water. Small natural tufa caves could have been widened. The site has never been geologically examined.
Finding \u03a3\u03c0\u03ae\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf \u0391\u03b3\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u039d\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03ac\u03bf\u03c5 can be a challenge. It is not visible from the road. A sign for the Nymphaeum is across the road. A small gravel car park is nearby. A stone staircase leads downhill through an iron archway with a cross.
Instead of a sign, a small wooden model of a church stands with icons on the walls. The model has a glass window displaying religious items. The stairs lead to a small paved square. A tufa wall is on the right side. Icons, religious symbols, crucifixes and plants cover the wall. A bell signals the beginning of service.
The door in the rock face leads to the cave church. Inside, the room has an irregular form. The walls are not plain or rectangular. The cave looks almost natural. Icons of saints cover the walls. The church contains all the necessary items of a Greek Orthodox church. The floor above the cave is covered with concrete. This likely serves as a roof to collect rainwater. Water seeping through the tufa could damage the icons.
Today the ecclesiastical committee of the parish church of St. John of Rhodes oversees the cave church. The Ministry of Culture and Sports administers it.
\u03a3\u03c0\u03ae\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf \u0391\u03b3\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u039d\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03ac\u03bf\u03c5 stands as a testament to faith. Its transformation from a humble barn to a revered church is complete. It is now a place of worship. It is free to visit and open at all times. This unique site blends history, mystery and devotion.