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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,…

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💬 Comments (11) 🌐 Translate comments

Леся Панченко

Рада бачити, що храм Святої Киріакії знову діє з 2010 року завдяки владиці Дамаскину. Добре, що архімандрит Христофул Каратанасіс, який родом звідти, теж служив. Цікаво, чи залишилися в селі нащадки тих уніатських родин.

Олександр Савченко

Радий, що згадали про отця Христофула — він справді добре знає ті місця, бо родом звідти. Наскільки я чув від людей з Кир’якії, частина нащадків тих уніатських родин таки залишилася, але вже давно перейшли в Православ’я. А ви бува не знаєте, чи хтось із них ще тримає старі сімейні історії про той період?

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

حلو إنو الأب خريستودولوس كاراثاناسيس شارك بالقداس، لأنو هو أصلاً من كيرياكي. أتمنى يحكوا لنا أكتر عن الكنيسة القديمة، خاصة إذا فيها أيقونات أو تفاصيل خشبية من القرن التسعطعش باقية. هلأ الجو هناك هادئ وجميل للصلاة.

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

Mă bucur că biserica Sfintei Chiriaci a fost readusă la viață din 2010 prin grija episcopului Damaschin. E frumos că a slujit și arhimandritul Christodoulos, care e originar din sat. Mă întreb dacă au mai rămas vreo icoană veche din secolul al XIX-lea, așa cum zic și alții.

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

Mă bucur și eu că s-a readus la viață biserica din 2010, exact cum spui. Arhimandritul Christodoulos chiar a povestit la un moment dat despre bunicii lui care mergeau acolo înainte de ’12. Nu știu de icoane din secolul XIX, dar am auzit că au salvat câteva obiecte mici de lemn când au început lucrările; poate le-au pus în naos acum. Tu ai fost vreodată prin Kiriaki?

Ion Nistor

Mă bucur că Arhimandritul Christodoulos a vorbit despre bunicii lui de acolo, arată că legătura nu s-a rupt de tot. Eu am trecut o dată prin Kiriaki acum doi ani, vara, și am văzut cum au pus la loc câteva obiecte vechi de lemn în naos, chiar lângă iconostas. Ai idee dacă au reușit să salveze și ceva din iconostasul vechi sau doar bucăți mici?