The Holy Metropolis of Kythira and Antikythira issued a dramatic appeal to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, protesting the complete isolation of the two islands due to the simultaneous suspension of both ferry routes for annual maintenance.
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythira, in a letter to Minister Christos Stylianidis, highlights the inability of residents to travel, the paralysis of commercial activity, and the dangerous shortage of basic goods, such as medicines, which are particularly affecting the isolated island of Antikythira.
As noted in the letter, the local ferry «Porfyrousa» It has been taken out of service for annual maintenance from January 11 through March 10, 2025, suspending all sailings between Kythira and Neapoli, Boeotia. At the same time, the subsidized regional ferry «Aqua Jewel», which connects Kythira and Antikythira with Piraeus and Crete, unexpectedly announced that it was being taken out of service for maintenance, leaving the islands without any ferry service.
The result of this situation is a complete halt in the transport of goods and supplies, with devastating consequences for professionals, residents, and local businesses. Especially in Antikythira, where residents are entirely dependent on the ferry service, the situation is becoming extremely critical.
In his remarks, the Metropolitan calls for an immediate solution to the ferry service connecting the islands during the period when the ferries are not operating, in order to ensure the smooth movement of people and goods. He notes that the situation affects not only the daily lives of residents but also the functioning of the Church, as it makes it impossible for him to travel to Antikythira to carry out his pastoral duties.
«We earnestly request that an alternative solution be found during the time these two ships are out of service, as this hinders both the transport of commercial goods and our ability to provide pastoral care on the sparsely populated and remote island of Antikythira,» he notes.
The letter from the Metropolis points out that the problem has been known for years and that the government should have already taken measures to prevent such a situation. The Metropolitan is calling for the Ministry’s immediate intervention to find a temporary or alternative solution to serve the islands, before the situation leads to irreversible consequences.
The letter concludes with the hope that «those in charge will fulfill their highly responsible duties,» making a clear dig at the government for its inaction in handling the issue.
The issue has caused concern among the residents of Kythira and Antikythira, and the issue is expected to be discussed at the Coastal Transport Council, where the Municipality of Kythira has placed the issue on the agenda.
