One of the most impressive and bizarre churches found across Greece, is located about 8km south of the town of Megalopolis in Arkadia. The church of Agia Theodora Vasta.
What is really unique about it is that seventeen trees -most of them more than 30 meters high and some weighing over 1 tonne- are embracing this small Byzantine church, with their brunches popping out of the roof but with no visible roots, except one that we can see beside the entrance. What is even more amazing is that in its interior there is not even one sign of trees or roots.
The experts cannot fully explain the weird phenomenon. Countless scientific studies have taken place to uncover the mystery. It is really impressive how this small church can support such enormous trees and how these trees grew and continue to survive with no evidence of any root system reaching the ground.
Public tradition however gives an explanation about it. It is said that Agia Theodora before her execution, prayed, “Let my body become a church, my blood a river, and my hair the trees.”
Agia Theodora’s church has become a popular pilgrimage site for Greeks and at her feast day in September 11, many people from all across Greece travel there to pray. Everybody who has been there -including myself- agrees that there is an amazing energy flowing around the church.
Is it a miracle? Is it just too difficult to be explained? Who knows... What I know for sure, is that the church itself and the location surrounding it is beyond words...
