User:Χαράλαμπος Ανναογλου/Holy Church of Zoodochos Pigi (Kalliphytos)

The chapel of Zoodochos Pigi is 10 kilometers from the center of the city of Drama and only 3 kilometers from the village of Kalliphytos. It is located at 340m. altitude. This natural pilgrimage is built at the foot of the mountain of "Panagia", as it is called by the locals.

Cave
According to tradition, an image of the Most Holy Theotokos, unchanged by time and humidity, had been found in this particular cave. Today there is not enough information about whether the authentic representation of the Virgin Mary has survived. Other testimonies state that this image was found buried in the wider area.

The chapel of Zoodochos Pigi was built during the Turkish occupation. The Turks recognized it as the "small church of St. John". In fact, they called it (Haji Yuvan Deligi). There even Muslims went sick. They cut a piece of their clothes and tied it to the branches of the surrounding trees, because they believed in the healing of "A-Yannis". After the departure of the Turks, the locals dedicated it to Panagia. It was celebrated during the feast of Zoodochos Pigi until the war of 1945, when it was transformed into "Fifteen August Panagia".

The new chapel was rebuilt in 1980. Religiously, it belongs to the Holy Metropolis of Drama. Today, the central catholicon of the Church operates twice a year (Zoodochos Pigis and August 15), in honor of its old name. Religious ceremonies are held daily (eg Weddings, prayers, etc.).