The church of Constantine and Helen - Tokhni |
The village of Vavla in the distance |
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The village of Tokhni and its church dedicated to Constantine and Helen is connected with the legend of how St. Helena, on her return from Jerusalem was driven ashore at Zyghi, near the river which is still called Vasilopotamos (Royal River). While she was resting on the shore, an angel appeared to her in a dream and commanded her to build a church to shelter the cross of the Penitent Thief, which she had brought from Jerusalem and at the same time to build a smaller church, in which to place a fragment of the True Cross. The Empress carried out the Angel's command and built the Monastery of Stavrovouni to shelter the cross of the Penitent Thief, while near where she landed she built the church of Tokhni where she placed the fragment of the True Cross. |