Agioi Anargyroi

Agioi Anargyroi is a small Orthodox chapel in the village of Melanes, roughly 8 km southeast of Naxos Town. It honors Saints Cosmas and Damian, twin brothers revered in the Eastern Church as the Agioi Anargyroi — the "Holy Unmercenaries" — for healing the sick without charge. The chapel sits on an unnamed rural road in a farming area known for its olive groves and the famous unfinished marble kouros statues nearby.

What to Expect

This is a working village chapel, not a museum. The structure is whitewashed stone with a simple bell tower and a terracotta-tile roof, typical of inland Cycladic churches. Inside, you'll find a modest iconostasis, votive candles, and icons of the twin physician saints. Locals light candles here on the feast day of Saints Cosmas and Damian (July 1 and November 1) and during major Orthodox holy days. Outside of services, the door is often unlocked, but the interior is quiet and plainly furnished.

Melanes is home to over a dozen chapels — the website lists more than 20 within the koinotita (community) — so this is one of many scattered across the agricultural valley. Agioi Anargyroi does not have posted visiting hours or signage in English.

How to Get There

From Naxos Town (Chora), drive or take the inland road toward Melanes. Follow signs for the village center; once past the Melanes kouros site (roughly 1 km before the village), watch for the chapel on a minor road to the east. The exact turnoff is unmarked on most maps, so ask locals or use GPS coordinates (37.0719, 25.5193). Parking is informal roadside. The chapel is about 10 minutes by car from the kouros statue site and 15 minutes from Naxos Town.

Tips for Visiting

• Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered if you enter.
• No set hours — the chapel may be locked outside of services; if you find it open, step in quietly and respect any active prayer.
• Combine with the kouros — the Melanes kouros is Naxos's most famous unfinished statue and sits in a garden less than 2 km away.
• July or November feast days — the chapel hosts a small panigiri (local festival) on the saints' name days; check with the Melanes community email if you want to attend.
• Bring a candle — if you light one, a small donation in the box is customary.

The Saints and Their Feast

Cosmas and Damian were 3rd-century physicians and martyrs, originally from Arabia or Cilicia. Orthodox tradition holds they accepted no payment for their healing work, relying entirely on faith. Their cult spread widely in the Byzantine Empire, and chapels named Agioi Anargyroi appear across Greece. On Naxos, communities in rural villages like Melanes maintain these small churches as local focal points. The July 1 feast is the primary celebration; November 1 is also observed but with less fanfare.

What's Nearby

Melanes village has a small kafeneion and two tavernas, both family-run. The Melanes kouros (Kouros Melanon) lies in a private olive garden with a small admission fee; it's a 10.5-meter marble statue abandoned in the 6th century BC. Another unfinished kouros, the Apollonas kouros, is on the north coast, a 40-minute drive. The Ancient Aqueduct (Yria aqueduct) runs through the valley south of Melanes and is accessible via a marked footpath from the main road. Naxos Town's port and beaches are 15 minutes west by car.