Even if you have lived in Athens for years and have taken many walks in Attica, there are probably still unexplored places, and when you discover them, such as the "Trypia Church", your surprise is great.
It is the Chapel of the Assumption, located at Mount Hymettus. A church inside a cave with a large open entrance. It is no coincidence that it is called the "Trypia(with holes) Church". When you get there and see it, you are impressed by this creation and prayer point literally in the forest. The ascent to Hymettus is one of those temples that you rarely come across and it definitely catches your eye. It's a visit to Attica that you must make. It will leave you speechless.
The Chapel of the Ascension of Jesus is actually an open chapel in a hollow cave. It is always very neat and clean and makes you feel like someone takes care of it every day. And that's exactly how it is, because the residents who take care of it make sure to keep it in that condition. It's built so that it's always accessible to everyone, all days and hours, all seasons. You can go to this little church and pray at any time.
It is a real wonder how such a small church was built in the stone gallery of the forest. However, the spot was not chosen by chance. It is said that where the shrine is today, water once flowed and gushed from an aqueduct that was built higher. In fact, this water was called holy water by the locals and they also considered it to have healing powers.
If you have read the short story "The Miracle of Caesarea" by the great and magnificent novelist Alexandros Papadiamantis, you will understand that there is a reference to this church, but to the popular tradition of the sanctified and miraculous water. Mention features:
"It was a beautiful cave, on the large rock, with a gray color, dripping dew all around. The place was full of thyme and wild moss. A crowd, a crowd of women, many men and children, like a hive, some standing, others sitting, some sick with various diseases, sick and crippled, were there making their cross. The water was cool, fresh water, holy water. He had a sore muscle, which never happened again... ".
Hymettus is the mountain of Attica that you will see and walk among age-old trees, plane trees, oaks, chestnuts and cypresses. These form the environment of the flora that will make you feel that the oxygen is flooding you calmly and that you are very far from Athens.
Arrange a walk on the mountain of Attica and take a walk through the "Trypia Church", the secret of Hymettus. You will relax, fill your lungs with fresh air and walk on green paths. An ideal destination also for children. They will explore the forest, collect leaves for their phytology and will have many stories to tell. Hymettus is the mountain for all seasons.
Trypia church video:
