Agios Nektarios - Agios Nikodimos

The church of Agios Nektarios – Agios Nikodimos is a dual-dedicated Orthodox chapel serving the Melanes community in the interior of Naxos. It honors two saints significant to modern Greek Orthodoxy: Nektarios of Aegina, canonized in 1961 and one of the most venerated saints in contemporary Greece, and Nikodimos the Hagiorite, the 18th-century Athonite monk and theologian.

What to Expect

Like most community churches on Naxos, this is a modest, working place of worship rather than a tourist monument. It belongs to a wider network of chapels and churches listed under the Melanes community — a valley settlement known primarily for its ancient kouros statues and Byzantine-era remains. The church is dual-dedicated, meaning it observes two feast days and may see local celebrations on both. Inside, you can expect the standard features of a Greek Orthodox interior: an iconostasis screening the sanctuary, oil lamps, and icons of the two patron saints. The atmosphere is quiet outside of feast days and Sunday liturgies.

How to Get There

Melanes lies roughly 8 km east of Naxos Town, reached via the main inland road toward Chalki. From Naxos Town, follow signs toward Melanes and Kouros — the valley is well signposted. The plus-code address (3CRV+75) places the church within the Melanes settlement. A car or scooter is the most practical option; the roads narrow as you descend into the valley. If you are already visiting the nearby Kouros of Flerio or the Byzantine church of Agios Georgios, this chapel is a short distance away within the same community.

Tips for Visiting

• Dress modestly before entering: shoulders and knees should be covered, as this is an active place of worship.
• Visit in the morning if you want the best light inside and the least heat on the walk from your vehicle.
• The church may be locked outside of feast days and liturgy times; if you find it closed, asking at nearby houses is the local custom and often works.
• Do not photograph during an active service.
• Combine your visit with the Kouros of Flerio and the ancient aqueduct in Melanes — all are within easy walking or driving distance.

What's Nearby

The Melanes valley is one of the more rewarding inland detours on Naxos. The unfinished kouros statues at Flerio — massive archaic marble figures abandoned in the ancient quarries — are the area's headline attraction and lie within a short drive. The Byzantine church of Agios Georgios and the Sanctuary of the Springs (Iero ton Pigon) are also listed as community sites. The village itself has a quiet, agricultural character very different from the coastal resorts, and the road through the valley connects onward to Chalki and the broader Tragea plateau.