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Didymoteichos Damascenes: Return to the roots and values of our ancestorstranslated

July 7, 2026 · 1 min read

In the semi-mountainous area of Central Evros, on the Mandra-Mikros Dereio provincial road, is the village of Kyriaki with two post-Byzantine Churches, built in the 19th century, of Agios Dimitrios (1845) and Agia Kyriaki (1860). The second has a special course over time as it was the center of the Bulgarian-speaking Unitarian community until the Balkan wars of 1912-1913, when it was abandoned for many decades until 2010, when, on the initiative of the Pastor Mr. Damaskinos, its functionality was restored and established in the name of the Great Martyr Saint Kyriaki.

On the occasion of the commemoration of Holy Sunday, His Holiness ministered there on the morning of the main day of the feast, flanked by the Abbot of the Dadia Monastery Archim. Theofilos Vasilakos, Archim. Christodoulos Karathanasis, from the Holy Metropolis of Alexandroupolis, which traces its origins back to Kyriaki, and other clergy of our local Church.

The Commander of the 50th Brigade Brigadier Kon. Evangelidis, the Deputy Mayors of Soufliou George. Baltzis and Theod. Tsiamitas, the Commander of the Soufli Police Department Char. Bombelis,…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Леся Панченко

I am glad to see that the church of Saint Kyriakia has been operating again since 2010 thanks to Bishop Damascene. It is good that Archimandrite Christofoulos Karathanasis, who hails from there, also served. I wonder if the descendants of those Uniat families remained in the village.

Олександр Савченко

I'm glad that Father Khristoful was mentioned - he really knows those places well, because he comes from there. As far as I heard from people from Kyriakia, some of the descendants of those Uniate families did remain, but they have long since converted to Orthodoxy. Do you happen to know if any of them still have old family stories about that period?

Juliana Wilson

Рада бачити, що храм Святої Кіріакії знову діє з 2010-го завдяки владиці Дамаскину. Добре, що архімандрит Христофул Каратанасіс, який родом звідти, теж служив разом з ігуменом Теофілом. Цікаво, чи збереглися в селі якісь деталі з 19 століття, наприклад, старі ікони чи різьба, про які згадують місцеві.

جيسيكا نصار

It is nice that Father Christodoulos Karathanassis participated in the Mass, because he is originally from Kiriaki. I wish they could tell us more about the old church, especially if there are icons or wooden details from the nineteenth century remaining. The weather there is calm and beautiful for prayer.

Emily Adams

The church of St Kyriaki sounds peaceful up there in the hills. Nice to see Archimandrite Christodoulos serving at the Liturgy since he’s from the village himself. I wonder if any of the old 19th-century icons or woodwork survived the long years it stood empty.

Daniela Popescu

I am glad that the church of Saint Chiriaci was brought back to life in 2010 by the care of Bishop Damaschin. It is nice that Archimandrite Christodoulos, who is originally from the village, also served. I wonder if there are any old 19th century icons left, as others say.

Paul Collins

Good to see the church of St Kyriaki back in use since 2010 thanks to Bishop Damaskinos. Nice that Archimandrite Christodoulos, who actually comes from the village, was serving there with Abbot Theophilos. I wonder if any of those 19th-century icons from the old Uniate period are still inside.

Thomas Hall

The church of St. Kyriaki looks like a quiet spot up in those hills. Good that Bishop Damaskinos got it going again in 2010 and that Archimandrite Christodoulos, who’s actually from the village, was there serving with Abbot Theophilos. I wonder if any of the old 19th-century icons made it through all those empty years.

Yes, it's heartening to see the church fully restored and in regular use again under Bishop Damaskinos. I remember visiting a few years back and noticing a couple of the older 19th-century icons still on the iconostasis, though some had been carefully cleaned. Do you know if any of the original Uniate furnishings survived in the village?

Bogdan Popescu

I am also glad that the church of 2010 has been brought back to life, exactly as you say. Archimandrite Christodoulos even told at one point about his grandparents going there before '12. I don't know about 19th century icons, but I heard they saved some small wooden objects when the work started; maybe they put them in the nave now. Have you ever been to Kiriaki?

Ion Nistor

I am glad that Archimandrite Christodoulos spoke about his grandparents there, it shows that the connection has not been completely broken. I went through Kiriaki once two years ago, in the summer, and saw how they put some old wooden objects in the nave, right next to the iconostasis. Do you have any idea if they managed to save anything from the old iconostasis or just small pieces?