Agios Kyprianos kai Ioustini

The shrine of Agios Kyprianos kai Ioustini is a small wayside chapel on Naxos, dedicated to two early Christian martyrs — Kyprianos (Cyprian) and Ioustini (Justina). Modest in scale but typical of the devotional landscape that dots every Greek island, it sits at coordinates 37.0877°N, 25.4441°E, in the southern part of the island not far from the coastal road network.

These small roadside shrines, known in Greek as eksotiká or simply proskinitária when they are icon stands, are a living part of Orthodox practice across the Cyclades. Some mark a spot of personal significance — a near-accident, a death, a miracle attributed to the saint — while others simply honor a patron whose feast day falls on a date meaningful to a local family. This particular shrine honors saints whose feast the Orthodox Church celebrates on 2 October.

What to Expect

This is a wayside shrine rather than a full church building, so expect something compact — likely a small stone or whitewashed structure, possibly housing an icon, an oil lamp, and a small shelf for candles or offerings left by passing worshippers. There are no facilities, no guided tours, and no admission charge. The atmosphere is quiet and informal. If you happen to pass on or around 2 October, the feast day of Saints Kyprianos and Ioustini, you may find fresh flowers or a lit oil lamp placed by a local resident.

St. Kyprianos was a third-century bishop of Carthage and early Church father; the martyred Kyprianos and Ioustini venerated in the Orthodox calendar are a separate pair — a magician-turned-Christian and a virgin he had tried to seduce through sorcery, both martyred under Diocletian. Their story gave rise to a long tradition of invoking Kyprianos as a protector against witchcraft and malevolent forces, which is part of why small shrines to this saint appear in rural and roadside settings across Greece.

How to Get There

The shrine is located in the southern portion of Naxos at roughly 37.0877°N, 25.4441°E. The most practical way to reach it is by car or scooter — both widely available for hire in Naxos Town (Chora). From Naxos Town, head south along the coastal road toward Pyrgaki or Agia Prokopios, keeping an eye on the roadside. A GPS pin dropped at the coordinates above will take you directly to the spot.

There is no public bus route that stops precisely at this shrine, though KTEL Naxos buses do run along the main southern routes; you would need to walk the final stretch from the nearest stop. Cyclists following the southern island roads will pass near the site naturally.

Parking is informal and roadside — standard practice for wayside shrines in Greece.

Best Time to Visit

This kind of shrine can be visited any time of year and is always accessible, as there are no locked doors or staffed hours. Early morning or late afternoon light suits photography of small whitewashed structures well. The feast day of Saints Kyprianos and Ioustini falls on 2 October, which is the most meaningful time to visit if you want to see the shrine in active devotional use. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for exploring this part of Naxos on foot or by bike.

Tips for Visiting

• Dress modestly if you intend to stop and pay respects — covered shoulders and knees are the standard courtesy at any Orthodox site, however small.
• Bring your own candles if you wish to light one; small bundles are sold at almost every minimarket and petrol station on the island.
• Do not move or remove any icons, lamps, or offerings from the shrine.
• If the oil lamp is unlit and you have oil, it is considered an act of piety to refill and light it — locals do this routinely.
• Combine the stop with a drive along Naxos's southern coast, which passes near the beaches of Pyrgaki, Alyko, and Kastraki.

The Saints: Kyprianos and Ioustini

The Orthodox veneration of these two saints is older and more widespread than their relatively modest profile in Western Christianity might suggest. Ioustini refused the advances of a pagan named Kyprianos, who attempted to use magic to win her over. Kyprianos's repeated failures led him to convert to Christianity; both were eventually martyred, probably around AD 304. Their story became enormously popular in Byzantine tradition, and Kyprianos in particular was invoked as a saint who understood — and could therefore counter — the workings of harmful magic. Small shrines dedicated to him often appear where local communities felt that protection was needed, and their persistence on rural roadsides reflects centuries of continuous popular devotion.