Agios Kirykos (or colloquially Ai Kyrkos) is located at the archaeological site of Lissos. The church of Agios Kirykos was built on the ruins of an early Christian basilica and retains the markings of damaged frescoes, the oldest of which dates back to 1436. It is a small, one-room temple and lends its name to the entire valley. It is built in arch-roofed Byzantine style with half-destroyed frescoes, of which those from 1436, 1437 and 1439 dates have survived. The faithful arrive, either on foot or by boat, from Sougia early in the afternoon of prior evening every 15th of July to partake in a wonderful festival at this mythical site.
In Crete and in the festivals to honour the memory of the Saint-protector of each village, the people of the village organize a feast after liturgy at the church with traditional dances, songs, and abundant food, while anyone is invited to join.
Some of the best-known traditional dishes are the chochli, snails cooked in various ways, one of the best-known being boubouristi fried in olive oil, the marathopita (fennel-pie), the mizithropitakia, chickpeas with pork, the famous gamopilafo, boureki, kolokythopatatopita (zucchini-potato-pie), the delicious singlino, kolokythanthi, sfakia-pita (very thin fried pie stuffed with xynomizithra cheese or anthotiro cheese, often accompanied by honey or walnuts), the antikristo (large pieces of skewered meat roasted slowly over coals for 5-6 hours), the classical kokoras krasatos, horta, kalitsounia, kreatotourta, makarouni skioufichta, salad with dakos, and lamb with yoghurt.
Photos: cretanbeaches.com
