The Divine Liturgy was held today, Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at the Holy Church of Saint Andrew in Livadi, presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera & Antikythera and with the participation of many people. The day is of historical importance as the church is being reopened after many years.
The restored Byzantine church of Agios Andreas in Livadi, which is one of the most important monuments of the Byzantine period of the island, was under maintenance when the devastating earthquake of 8 January 2006 caused further damage to the building.
Yesterday the vespers was held in the church. See photos of Irini Travasarou:
Saint Andrew
One of the most important Byzantine churches of Kythera and nationwide. It is located in the centre of the village of Livadi. It shows various phases of construction which are five in succession. According to scholars, the church was built between the 9th and 10th century. In its present form it is a cruciform inscribed with a dome of transitional type, with three tangential semi-cylindrical, minimally protruding arches and a later (13th century) narthex. The corner compartments are covered by arches, the western ones being particularly elongated. The chancel is built later. It has passed through five building phases.
Frescoes
It has three layers of frescoes. The first layer is of the 10th - 11th century. The second layer dates back to the 13th century and the third layer is post-Byzantine frescoes of the 16th century. Part of the wall paintings is exhibited in the Collection of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Art in the church of Ascension in Livadi.
