Antigone is the second inhabited island of the Propontis after Prinkipo (Büyükada), when coming from Istanbul, and is the second in size in the group. It is covered with pine trees and has an area of approximately 1,500 square meters. Its Turkish name is “Burgaz,” meaning “fortress” or “wall.”
In the center of the island's inhabited area stands the magnificent Church of Saint John the Forerunner. According to tradition, it was built around 841 by the Empress Theodora over the crypt of Saint Methodios the Confessor. Following the Fall of Constantinople, the church was renovated twice, in 1759 and again in 1817. On June 28, 1894, during the great earthquake, the church was split in two and could no longer be repaired. The people of Antigone undertook a major effort to rebuild their church and organized a collection among themselves. Eventually, through the generous donation of the great benefactor Demetrios Pantziris, and with his son-in-law Nikolaos Dimadis serving as architect—he was the son of Konstantinos Dimadis, the architect of the Great School of the Nation—the magnificent Church of Saint John the Forerunner was erected. The church was consecrated on July 11, 1899, with the Patriarch of Constantinople Neophytos presiding over the ceremony; he was serving at Antigone at the time.
In 1999, under the presidency of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the centennial of the church's construction was celebrated. Unfortunately, another powerful earthquake once again caused serious damage to the church.
The church was subsequently thoroughly repaired through donations and financial contributions, restoring its former splendor.
Near the church is the holy spring of Saint John the Forerunner, which, according to tradition, was once connected to the crypt of Saint Methodios. August 29th is the feast day celebrated at the holy spring.
Saint Methodios the Confessor, during the period of Iconoclasm, came into conflict with the Emperor Theophilos and was exiled to Antigone in 833, where he was confined in an underground prison. Methodios remained imprisoned here for approximately seven years. His crypt survives to this day beneath the Church of Saint John.
The second-largest church on the island is the Church of Saint George the Trophy-Bearer, which is the katholikon of the Monastery of Saint George Karypis, which was dependent upon the Monastery of Great Cave (Mega Spelaio) in Kalavryta. It was probably built in the seventeenth century and was thoroughly renovated, according to an inscription in the church, on March 12, 1805.
At the island's panoramic summit stands the Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ the Savior, later known as the Monastery of Theokoryphotos. In earlier times, there was an ancient temple of Zeus at this location, and the katholikon of the monastery was built upon it. According to tradition, the monastery was destroyed by order of the Sultan after a Jewish physician who had been appointed to serve at the palace failed to cure a woman of the palace. He claimed that she had been frightened to death by a great fire that the monks had lit to burn an effigy of Judas. The present surviving church was built on part of the old temple. Its consecration took place on June 22, 1869.
Next to the monastery is the cemetery of the Community of Antigone, within which is the Chapel of the Prophet Elias.
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
The elementary school of Antigone was founded in 1891 and operated as separate schools for boys and girls. It was destroyed in the earthquake of 1894 and was re-established at its present location in 1905 on land donated by the community's great benefactor, Maria Chatzilouka. It continued to operate normally until 1974, after which it remained closed because of a lack of students.
THE ISLAND TODAY
Today, approximately fifteen members of the Greek community are permanent residents of the island. During the summer months, however, together with vacationers, their number rises to approximately 250.
During the summer months, the Church of Saint John operates regularly every Sunday and on certain feast days. The priest serving as head of the Community is the Very Reverend Archimandrite Father Stefanos Nousis, a graduate of the Holy Theological School of Halki. During the summer months, Mr. Antonis Parizianos serves as the chanter, while Mrs. Maria Lorentzou serves as the church's superintendent and caretaker. After each service, the Committee welcomes the entire congregation in the church's beautiful garden, planted with flowers of various colors and featuring a marble fountain in the center, offering refreshments, hot beverages, sweets, and other treats.
Every four years, in rotation with the other churches of the four islands, an evening Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Christmas and Theophany. On latter feast, the Holy Cross is immersed in the waters at the island's pier, and many devout pilgrims attend.
Antigone is exceedingly beautiful and offers its inhabitants a peaceful and idyllic way of life. Especially during the summer months, the island comes alive with vacationers and takes on a vibrancy that disappears during the winter.
In the center of the island's inhabited area stands the magnificent Church of Saint John the Forerunner. According to tradition, it was built around 841 by the Empress Theodora over the crypt of Saint Methodios the Confessor. Following the Fall of Constantinople, the church was renovated twice, in 1759 and again in 1817. On June 28, 1894, during the great earthquake, the church was split in two and could no longer be repaired. The people of Antigone undertook a major effort to rebuild their church and organized a collection among themselves. Eventually, through the generous donation of the great benefactor Demetrios Pantziris, and with his son-in-law Nikolaos Dimadis serving as architect—he was the son of Konstantinos Dimadis, the architect of the Great School of the Nation—the magnificent Church of Saint John the Forerunner was erected. The church was consecrated on July 11, 1899, with the Patriarch of Constantinople Neophytos presiding over the ceremony; he was serving at Antigone at the time.
In 1999, under the presidency of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the centennial of the church's construction was celebrated. Unfortunately, another powerful earthquake once again caused serious damage to the church.
The church was subsequently thoroughly repaired through donations and financial contributions, restoring its former splendor.
Near the church is the holy spring of Saint John the Forerunner, which, according to tradition, was once connected to the crypt of Saint Methodios. August 29th is the feast day celebrated at the holy spring.
Saint Methodios the Confessor, during the period of Iconoclasm, came into conflict with the Emperor Theophilos and was exiled to Antigone in 833, where he was confined in an underground prison. Methodios remained imprisoned here for approximately seven years. His crypt survives to this day beneath the Church of Saint John.
The second-largest church on the island is the Church of Saint George the Trophy-Bearer, which is the katholikon of the Monastery of Saint George Karypis, which was dependent upon the Monastery of Great Cave (Mega Spelaio) in Kalavryta. It was probably built in the seventeenth century and was thoroughly renovated, according to an inscription in the church, on March 12, 1805.
At the island's panoramic summit stands the Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ the Savior, later known as the Monastery of Theokoryphotos. In earlier times, there was an ancient temple of Zeus at this location, and the katholikon of the monastery was built upon it. According to tradition, the monastery was destroyed by order of the Sultan after a Jewish physician who had been appointed to serve at the palace failed to cure a woman of the palace. He claimed that she had been frightened to death by a great fire that the monks had lit to burn an effigy of Judas. The present surviving church was built on part of the old temple. Its consecration took place on June 22, 1869.
Next to the monastery is the cemetery of the Community of Antigone, within which is the Chapel of the Prophet Elias.
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
The elementary school of Antigone was founded in 1891 and operated as separate schools for boys and girls. It was destroyed in the earthquake of 1894 and was re-established at its present location in 1905 on land donated by the community's great benefactor, Maria Chatzilouka. It continued to operate normally until 1974, after which it remained closed because of a lack of students.
THE ISLAND TODAY
Today, approximately fifteen members of the Greek community are permanent residents of the island. During the summer months, however, together with vacationers, their number rises to approximately 250.
During the summer months, the Church of Saint John operates regularly every Sunday and on certain feast days. The priest serving as head of the Community is the Very Reverend Archimandrite Father Stefanos Nousis, a graduate of the Holy Theological School of Halki. During the summer months, Mr. Antonis Parizianos serves as the chanter, while Mrs. Maria Lorentzou serves as the church's superintendent and caretaker. After each service, the Committee welcomes the entire congregation in the church's beautiful garden, planted with flowers of various colors and featuring a marble fountain in the center, offering refreshments, hot beverages, sweets, and other treats.
Every four years, in rotation with the other churches of the four islands, an evening Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Christmas and Theophany. On latter feast, the Holy Cross is immersed in the waters at the island's pier, and many devout pilgrims attend.
Antigone is exceedingly beautiful and offers its inhabitants a peaceful and idyllic way of life. Especially during the summer months, the island comes alive with vacationers and takes on a vibrancy that disappears during the winter.
