The Village and Church of St. Demetrios - a  Providential Blessing

Our morning gift was a coffee/bathroom stop in the beautiful mountain town of St. Demetrios. The school is St. Demetrios, the church, also named for the town's patron saint, St. Demetrios, is painted inside and out in modern Greek frescoes with old stone arches, and up the hill sits a small hospital clinic. A a dormition fresco of St. Demetrios, whose prototype we had never seen, is on the inside arch of the porch (stoa). These images are contemporary Byzantine and quite stunning. The village priest opened the church for us while he lit candles for a morning funeral, but he’s moving on tomorrow to another parish, and he still doesn't know where he's going. Memory Eternal for the local member of this village. 

I learned the name for toilet paper here:  χαρτί υγείας (healthy paper, a tongue in cheek expression!) in the cafe across from the church we we bought coffee and used the facilities. This village gave us an unexpected jewel from its beloved saint. We drink strong Greek coffee served hospitably with a glass of water. Next to the cafe men sit at the tables smoking, playing τάβλι (backgammon) and philosophizing, as they have done for centuries.