Above the harbor of Bouka stands the temple of the patron saint of Kasos — one of the most emblematic buildings of Fry, with an iconostasis from 1866 and a bell tower that has been measuring the island's time since 1926.
Saint Spyridon is the patron saint of Kasos and his church dominates the small port of Bouka, in the center of Fry. The building has four semi-cylindrical domes and a wooden carved iconostasis from 1866, while between the Sanctuary and the Beautiful Gate is the tomb of Georgios Manolakis, from the same year. The imposing bell tower dates back to the mid-19th century and its clock was added in 1926.
A symbol beyond architecture
The importance of the church for the people of Kassio is not limited to its architecture. The island's fighters took refuge in the memory of the Saint both during the Revolution of 1821 and during the Holocaust of 1824, a fact that gives the church a special symbolic weight. The feast of Saint Spyridon is celebrated on December 12.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the following sources:
- Municipality of Heroic Island of Kasos: «"The churches of Kasos"»
- Kasos Tours: «"The churches of Kasos"»
- Municipality of Heroic Island of Kasos: «"Sights of Kasos"»