The Holy Church of Ag. Dimitriou was built in 1815 and is a small Church, which has its own color. It is in the style of a basilica and as can be seen from the founding inscription, the Church is honored in the name of three Saints.
1. Of Saint Demetrius the Great Martyr, which is solemnly celebrated with the participation of our Pastor, the Priesthood of the Island and the Authorities, on October 25 and 26 of each year.
2. Of Saint Anthony the Great, which is celebrated every year on January 17, with baking and the traditional cutting of the Parish King’s Pie.
3. Of Saint Neomartyr Constantine of Hydra, the day after the memory of the Patron Saint of Hydra, on November 15.
It should be noted that in the Church there is the first icon painted for Saint Constantine, in 1815.
In 1943, the then Metropolitan of Hydra, Mr. PROKOPIOS Karamanos, head of a procession, brought the icon of Agios Spyridon, dating from 1809, to the Church from the Church of Agios Nikolaos of Kavos (now Mavroidis family).
Ypapanti is one of the most historic churches in Hydra and was built in 1780 by Lazaros Dimitriou Kokkini.
It belongs to the parish of the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Virgin.
The foundation of the Church dates back to 1798, when it was renovated. It is located in the North Eastern Central City and in the “Giftika” area on the road that leads to the former orchard of “Kousoula”.
The Parish Church in question has been known, since those old days, as “Three Churches”, because the memory of the Three Saints is commemorated. That is, of Agia Varvara, Agios Nikolas and Agios Savvas. Later everyone knows her as “Saint Barbara” of Papadamianos. It is a large enclosed Church, a Basilica with a wooden tiled roof. It is spacious with a despotic throne carina, a Templo carina and wood carvings of wonderful art.
The wonderful bell tower is restored at the expense of Dora Gardikis-Damianos, wife of Count Giorgio Giuliana Piazza and is kept in good condition. Of course, the Gardikis and Kokkou families have always been warm supporters of the Church of Agia Varvara.
THE LIFE OF THE SAINT
Saint Constantine from Hydra was born in the Kiafa district of Hydra, to pious parents, Michael and Marina, on the barren and rugged rock of Hydra. At the age of eighteen, he makes the first big trip of his life, sailing to Rhodes, where he has relatives. He says goodbye to his island, his mother and leaves with the Holy Cross on his chest and his mother’s wish and Christ’s love in his heart and mind.
At first Konstantinos works in the tarsanades together with his cousins, then he gets a job in a grocery store. Konstantinos – thanks to his hard work and honesty – becomes liked by everyone. He obediently carries out all the orders of the boss, and he trusts him so much that several times he puts him in his house, sets a table for him, entertains him, treats him just like his children. But also Konstantinos, in order to repay the honor and hospitality, very willingly does many of the household chores.
At the grocery store, Konstantinos advertises his business and quickly makes acquaintances with Jews, Turks, Greeks, Armenians. He makes his first friends. One of them, a Turk, proposes his sister to him as his wife. This is enough for Constantine to lose his job, because his boss considered it an insult and a great betrayal.
Constantine found himself again wandering the narrow streets of the great state of Rhodes. From these difficult moments of hunger and destitution, a friend of his from Agarin, who suggests that he intercede with Pasha, so that Constantine can work in the Sarai, brings him out.
Once or twice, without realizing it, Constantine stomps through the gate to the Sarai, his mind reeling from luxury, comfort and opulence.
The pasha takes him kindly when he learns that he comes from Hydra. He entrusts him with the care and grooming of his most beloved horse, Estafet.
Again Konstantinos manages to be loved. The hard work, the dedication, the kindness, the smile, the sweetness of his face, his performance make him stand out. He has a good word for everyone, and everyone in the Sarai has nothing but praise and good words for him.
Before long, Constantine secures Pasha’s undivided sympathy, because thanks to Estafet, Constantine manages to win in the ‘giriti’, in shooting matches, and give victory to Pasha.
A great feast is set up in the Sarai, a proper festival. Hasan – Pasha does not let the opportunity go to waste. He sweetly approaches Konstantinos and skillfully manages to convince him to convert. Konstantinos accepts and is soon renamed Hassan, and he also agrees to be circumcised. Stunned by the victory, by the joy and the festivities, he falls into a lethargy. But when he wakes up, he comes to his senses and looks for the amulet that his mother had put on him. He searches for it with difficulty and finds it in the trash. He understands what mistake he fell into. Regrets torment him. For days he walks around thoughtful, taciturn, sullen. The pasha gives him permission to go see his mother in Hydra.
But a big surprise awaits him there. The news has caught up with him. As soon as he sets foot in the port of Hydra, everyone turns away from him, no one speaks to him, shutters and doors slam in his wake. When he arrives at his father’s house, his mother does not receive him, does not open the door for him. After that, he takes the boat to Rhodes again, having made the big decision.
He runs into the forest, in Rodini, and there he meets an old man, to whom he confesses. He tells him about his passions and announces his decision to testify. The old man dissuades him, telling him that he is young and will not endure the pains of martyrdom. She urges him to leave, to travel far away. Constantine follows the old man’s advice and travels to the distant Pontus. There he works, studies church books and prays. The flame of repentance kindles in his breast, and the idea of martyrdom smolders in his mind. He arrives in Constantinople, is received by Patriarch Gregory V, from whom he receives a blessing and a letter of recommendation to visit the Iberon Monastery on Mount Athos. He stays on the Mount praying for several months. His conversations and association with the Fathers of the Monastery shield him and strengthen him in his decision to bear witness. Taking the wish of the Fathers and especially the blessing of Panagia Portaitissa, he travels to Rhodes determined to confess Jesus, who he betrayed, before the Pasha.
Dressed in the cassock, he appears before Hasan Pasha, who at first does not recognize him. He confesses to him who he is and asks the pasha to be baptized and believe in Jesus Christ. The Pasha is enraged and tries in vain to convert him. Constantine is imprisoned in the damp dungeons. The Pasha welcomes him, promises him gifts, a better life, comforts, honours, greatness. Constantine increasingly opposes and boldly confesses his God. The pasha is coming down. Constantine’s days are running out. In prison he secretly accepts the Precious Gifts. Now he is ready for the torture. During his prayer hours he receives a vision, where God’s will is revealed to him and the end of his suffering. In a few days, on November 14 of the year 1800, Constantine is beheaded. The land of Rhodes lovingly receives his honest body, which works miracles and richly spreads grace and blessing to the faithful.
After some time, Constantine’s mother comes to Rhodes, receives the Neomartyr’s body and buries it on the rocks of Hydra.
Our Church honors Saint Constantine the Hydra every year on November 14. In the year 2000, the two hundredth anniversary of the Saint’s martyrdom was celebrated in the Saint’s birthplace, Hydra, with events, a conference and special publications.
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