Agios Antonios

Agios Antonios is a small Orthodox chapel on the island of Naxos, dedicated to Saint Anthony — one of the most venerated saints in both Eastern and Western Christian tradition. Chapels like this one are woven into the Naxian landscape, appearing on hillsides, field edges, and village outskirts, each maintained by a local family or community as an act of ongoing devotion.

What to Expect

The chapel follows the typical form of a small Cycladic place of worship: whitewashed walls, a compact interior with an iconostasis screen separating the nave from the sanctuary, and oil lamps or candles kept burning before the icons. The dedication to Saint Anthony (Agios Antonios in Greek) means the chapel's name day falls on 17 January, when a small liturgy and local gathering may take place. Outside of feast days, the interior is often locked, but the exterior and immediate surroundings are always accessible and worth a quiet moment.

How to Get There

The chapel sits at approximately 37.0962° N, 25.4456° E, placing it in the broader area south of Naxos Town (Chora). From Naxos Town, head south along the main coastal or inland road toward the Livadi plain. Use the coordinates in a mapping app to pinpoint the exact location, as small chapels of this kind are rarely signposted. A car or scooter makes the approach straightforward; confirm the last section of track before setting out, as rural paths to chapels can narrow.

Tips for Visiting

• Dress modestly. Shoulders and knees should be covered before entering any Orthodox chapel. Carry a light scarf or wrap if you're coming from the beach.
• Check the door quietly. Small chapels are often locked between services. If the door is open, enter slowly and let your eyes adjust — interiors are dim by design.
• Visit around the name day. 17 January is the feast of Saint Anthony; a brief liturgy at a dedicated chapel is a genuine piece of local religious life, not a tourist event.
• Bring a torch or phone light. If the chapel is open, interior lighting may be limited to candlelight.
• Leave everything as you find it. Do not move icons, candles, or votive offerings. These objects carry personal significance for the families who tend the chapel.

The History

Saint Anthony the Great, an Egyptian monk of the 3rd and 4th centuries, is regarded as the father of Christian monasticism. His name was adopted across the Greek Orthodox world, and chapels bearing his dedication appear on nearly every island in the Aegean. On Naxos — an island with a long history of both Orthodox and Catholic Christian presence, owing to Venetian rule from the 13th to 16th centuries — small chapels dot the countryside in large numbers, many built by farming families as private oratories that later became communal. This particular chapel continues that tradition of quiet, local worship.