Church of Agios Dionysios Pyrgos

The Church of Agios Dionysios is an architectural jewel in the center of the city of Pyrgos. As you observe it, you may forget yourself for a while and find yourself thinking you are on some Ionian island, as it is built in an Ionian architectural style and it is a branch, or, as we would say in ecclesiastical terminology, a metochion, of the Church of Agios Dionysios of Zakynthos.

The Saint’s hand is kept inside the church, which, according to tradition, was said to have been cut off his relic that was kept in Zakynthos, by Hagarene pirates. They sold it to Chios, but after many years it returned to Zakynthos. At the time when the Saint’s hand returned to the island, the people were being tormented by a terrible plague epidemic. Thus, some Pyrgians living in Zakynthos got permission to bring the Saint’s hand to Pyrgos and to build a church in his honor, so that his grace could help them overcome the epidemic. Since then, on December 17, the official celebration day dedicated to the Saint in the city of Pyrgos, festivities in his honor take place.