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Misiria
is one of the former villages which nowadays are melted into the town of
▶ Rethymnon.
The rural commune is located east of the city approx. midway to Rethymnon's suburb of
▶ Adelianos Campos,
where most of the bigger hotels concentrate.
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By
the Municipalities Reorganization Law of 1973, Misiria became an own parish as well.
Considering
the number of members Misiria is a large parish, but regrettably not a wealthy one.
Most
of the inhabitants belong to the former Greek population of Asia Minor who were compulsorily transferred from the today's country of Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century.
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They
had to leave their fields, pastures and houses behind which they gained by the work of centuries, and being expellees now to build up new livings, mostly at those places of the island where no agriculture existed until that time as the soils could be cultivated only with enormous efforts.
When
tourism discovered
▶ Crete
and the town of Rethymnon, hotel sites have been built at the more wealthy places such as Rethymnon City and Adelianos Campos.
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The
inhabitants of Misiria however did not have the money to participate in building up the tourism business.
So
up to the present day, the conspicuous gap between the city and it's hotel suburb still exists.
In
1994, they finally could start building a church in Misiria which shall also enclose a community centre with a hall for cultural events.
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All
members of the congregation attempted big efforts, and since some months the ground floor can be used for the worship service.
The
top floor including the staircases, the community centre on the basement floor, and the outdoor facilities are however still missing.
In
spite of all endeavours neither the church nor the community centre could be accomplished yet.
It is just the required money which is missing.
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There
is also the fact that during the construction process several cost-pushing things occured which had not been known in the beginning.
Most
topical is the problem about the water from the rainfalls during the winter.
The
ground-water table actually is deep enough, but from higher levels on the neighbouring properties rainwater runs through gaps and chinks and then penetrates into the basement floor of the church.
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During
the summer months, the parish utilise the basement so far as it is possible.
On the 29th of June which is St. Peter and Paul's day, they arrange tables and chairs between the concrete piers ...
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... and after the service they start to celebrate their great day:
The plastic furniture as well as the cables which hang from the ceiling are just being ignored.
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Doors,
windows and lockers are however still missing, too.
So after the party they have to dispatch all the furniture again, as well as all the dishes, plates, cutlery and glassware.
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The
parish actually acts the same way as the photographer did it when he took this picture:
It just depends on the point of view.
From the correct viewing angle, even uncomplete things can look quite nice.
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When
moving some steps aside, reality however comes to light and one can see which parts are already complete and which ones are just provisional.
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The
view from the corner of the property shows it in the best way.
They now started to build the enclosure wall, as the works on the basement and on the outer facilities have to cease until further notice.
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Again,
the entire building needs to be excavated more than 4 metres deep, and a drainage system has to be installed that shall channel the seeping water off.
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Only
then they can start to establish the community centre on the basement floor and to complete the outdoor installations.
Again,
an additional five-digit Euros amount is required.
And
Father Pantelis, the initiator of the building project and tireless fundraiser, starts to ask himself whether he will ever witness the completion of his lifework.
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The
Parish of Peter and Paul in Misiria appeal for help from Christians all over the world:
We
are not able to achieve our aim of giving our large parish it's own church and community centre on our own resources.
Please
help us with your charity in order to enable us to create a place of devotion and meeting for our congregation.
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Please
also attend our divine service on Sunday morning if you should spend your holidays in the area, and get an idea of the situation.
You and your family are welcome any time.
We
are looking forward to your visit, and if you can give some coins in the offering box we will be even more glad.
Even
the smallest amount will help!
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On
Assumption Day (the 15th of August), the divine service is incidentally conducted in the small chapel on the grounds of the Creta Palace Hotel, or rather by the chapel and thereabout, as the chapel really is most tiny.
The
entry to the hotel grounds is in Misiria by the Old National Road in the eastern half of the village, just left hand of the ECO gas station.
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Text & photos:
Ingo H. Dietrich
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Father Pantelis Flouris, Archpriest
G. Kourmouli 52
GR-74100 Rethymnon
Phone (0030) 28310 51931
Office (0030) 28310 23410
Mobile (0030) 6977 501868
E-mail to ▶ The Holy Church of St. Peter & Paul
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Being a regular church congregation, the Parish of Peter and Paul in Misiria
is by the way entitled to issue tax-deductible receipts for contributions.
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Donation account:
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Bank
Place
Account no.
IBAN
BIC
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National Bank of Greece
Branch of Rethymnon
GR-74100 Rethymnon
756 54 002 288
GR54 0110 7560 0000 7565 4002 288
ETHNGRAA
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In 1999, the internet presentation of the Parish of Peter and Paul has been one of the very first web sites for a Greek Orthodox church.
To view the earliest version, please click
▶ here.
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