1. Back during the Turkish occupation the Turk in charge of the local area decided to destroy the little church at Argyromouri and fires 4 cannon balls at it from Exopoli. The church was not destroyed but was marked by the cannon balls - you can see the marks in the church walls - they are not simply decorative. The church is currently waiting for the archaeologists to examine the walls to verify the story.
After the failure to destroy the church the Turk was so angry that he broke down the church door and pulled the ancient icon from the wall, threw it on the floor and lowered his trousers ( such as they were at the time) and squatted to defile it. He discovered that he was stuck and could not move. It took several priests to say a mass and he had to leave behind his large cummerbund before he was released. He had to promise never to wear the cummerbund again. This was so unusual at the time that he was continually asked and shamed by people wanting to know why he did not wear it.
The icon is on the left hand side as you look at the church door.
A Modern story now which happened this week. A local resident won a ewe in the church raffle two years ago at the St Georges festival at the church. He was so pleased that he promised that he would bring the ewe's first lamb back to the church. During the first year she did not have a lamb. During the second year she had a male lamb. This ram was such a good strong animal that he was persuaded by his family and friends not to bring the lamb and he decided to offer the church some Pork chops for the feast instead. The morning before the festival of St George he went to feed his animals and found the ram had died unexpectedly in the night. The moral? Don't mess with St George, he has no need for sheep and lambs but you must keep your promises. - Yes, those of us who were at the church know who the person involved was.
More local stories of St George soon
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