Saint George Church

 place with historical importance  Add category

Zakynthos was the seat of the Friendly Society (Filiki Eteria) which pioneered the Greek Revolution against the Turkish.
At the small church of Saint Georgios of Filikon in Zakynthos the members of the Friendly Society (Filiki Etairia) took oath and that is why this church is a significant historical monument.
Built in the area "Psiloma" at the foot of the wood of the Community of Bochali, in the 17th century by the noble family of Georgios Latinos, destroyed by the earthquake of 1893, rebuilt later, destroyed again by the earthquake of 1953 and rebuilt immediately.
At the adjacent cell place of residence for priests, which no longer exists because of the earthquakes, the refugee priest Anthimos Argyropoulos (who was pursued by Ali Pasha in Epirus) was performing the initiation of the Greek fighters of the National Revolution. That was taken place in front of an icon of Christ, preserved today in the church called "Trimorfo (Triform)".
Passing the gate, through the courtyard you are welcome by the statue of the Old Man of the Morea Theodoros Kolokotronis, which was initiated at the Friendly Society (Filiki Eteria) in 1818. In the austere interior of the church is the list of main versed members of the Friendly Company (Filiki Eteria) during the years 1818–1821, among them our national poet Dionysios Solomos, Plapouta brothers, Fotomaras, Nikitaras, Romas, Martinegos Antonios, Ioannis and Panagiotis Stefanou. Besides Anthimos Argyropoulos, was also Aristides Pappas, a priest fmm Thessalia, who was going from house to house in order to rouse the enslaved Greeks patriots against the Ottoman Turks and to initiate them to the Friendly Society (Filiki Eteria).
For the island at Zakynthos the church of St Georgios of Filikon is a significant traditional, historical add architectural monument which reminds to all visitors the significant role where the island of Zakynthos had in the Revolution of the Greeks for the liberation from the Turkish yoke and slavery.