what is the meaning of the small chapels?
The chapels or iconostasis alongside the road
Something about the chapels or iconostasis alongside the road. The literal translation is ‘icon stop’. The chapels have a three way meaning; either an accident happened with casualties, or an accident happened with a good ending, or it is a reference to the nearest church or monastery.
The chapels always contain an icon, an oil lamp, oil, matches or a lighter, a fuse and sometimes even some money. They can contain different icons; an icon of the saint which the person is named after when it concerns a fatal accident. Usually you will find a picture of the person that died. When it concerns an accident with a good ending you will find an icon of Agios Georgios, the saint of the road users, to show gratitude for the happy ending.
An accident with a good outcome – Agios Georgios
When the iconostasis is a reference to the nearest church you will find an icon of which the church is named after. Possibly this is also an Agios Georgios icon, if that would be the name of the church.
The lights in the chapels are almost always burning. If the light is off, one is allowed to light it. When you notice that the oil or the fuse is finished, you can leave some coins behind to buy these products. This has been a tradition for many years.
With a warning function
The chapels also serve a warning function, as they indicate a dangerous curve or stretch of road. So, if you’re driving along a route with many chapels, be cautious and attentive.
An ikonostasis, from the Greek word εικονοστάσιο, is also called an ekklisaki, derived from the Greek word εκκλησάκι, and is written in various forms: iconistatis, ikonistasis, icon stop, small church. On this page, we will refer to it as an ikonostasis.
Other Routaki routes:
This topic is mentioned in…
Excerpt from the ROUTE KALAMAFKA – ROUTE 59, in the VoiceMap app where the following is explained…
“With a Routaki route, my aim is always to provide relevant information about the sights you see or will encounter along the journey. In parts where there’s not much to see or in between villages, I delve into general topics concerning the island.
One common sight you’ll notice are the small chapels, known as iconostases, scattered along the roadside. They commemorate a tragic or fortunate traffic accident, or simply indicate the proximity of a nearby church or monastery.
Typically, these chapels contain an icon, an oil lamp, oil, matches or a lighter, and sometimes even a small amount of money.
One frequently encountered icon is that of Agios Georgios, as many men are named after him. Also numerous churches are dedicated to him and he is also the patron saint of traffic.
So, as you journey today, feel protected.
Continue further.”
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