 Location |
|
Elafonissos is a very small island, between the southernmost point of the Peloponnese and the island of Kythira. In ancient times, it was connected with the mainland by a narrow strip of land and the archeological findings testify that it was inhabited from Prehistory. It has wonderful sandy beaches and very clean waters, rich in fish. The island covers an area of 18 km2 and has a coastline of 26 km. The tourist accommodations are few and it is a place for quiet vacations, far from modern life.
The island is 4 n.m. from the port of Neapolis, on the opposite coast of the Peloponnese.
Local boats connect the island with the mainland (15 min), many times a day.
Ferryboats link the island to the port of Piraeus
|
 Population |
|
Approximately 270.
|
 History |
|
Elafonissos used to be linked to the mainland by a causeway until 1677. There is a church standing in isolation away from all the other buildings on the piece of land, which tapers towards the mainland.
Elafonissos town is a pretty little fishing village with very few tourists, but it’s very popular with Greeks who travel over from the mainland for fish lunches throughout the summer months.
|
 Religion |
|
This topic is not island-specific. It applies to the nation of Greece.
Orthodox Christianity is the recognized dominant religion of Greece and it is legally protected by the state. This has caused legal discrimination against non-Orthodox Churches, and although the constitution of 1975 removed the power of most of the old laws against Protestants, problems still exist today. There is a lot of fear towards anything outside of the Orthodox Church, especially on the islands. However, repeated rulings of the European Court of Justice in favour of religious minorities in cases of discrimination have led to a relative increase of the freedoms that these religious minorities now enjoy.
|
|
 Saints |
|
Most of the saints are honored on this island and the Orthodox Church is highly respected.
|
 Prayer |
|
-That the outreach will enable the gospel of salvation to be shared
-That the people on the island will realize their need for God and their eyes will be opened to the truth and love of God through reading the Bible for themselves.
-That God will work in the lives of all the God-fearing religious people already living on this island, and bring healing & refreshment to their lives.
|
 Miscellaneous |
|
• The island is blessed with very clean seas and sandy beaches 4km south of the main town. Small boats run back & forth.
• Ferries run regularly to Neapoli. The journey takes 30 mins.
|
 Celebrations |
|
The celebrations on the islands usually revolve around the Saints, and there is a big celebration at Easter in the Orthodox Church.
|
 Resources |
|
www.greektravel.com
www.in2greece.com
http://www.uch.gr/crete/places/Elafonissos/elafinissos.html
http://www.akropolis.com/elafonissosmap
www.harrys-60-greek-islands-guide.com
www.worldtravelgate.org
|
