DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0145
120 PATRA.
retains the name of Melikoukia, and supplies the whole town with
water. The Glaucos is probably a small stream, about three miles to
the south of Patra, on the way to Olympia: its present name is Leuka.
Another rivulet, called Sakena, enters the sea in two streams on
the road to Bostitza, at about two miles and a half from Patra;
this may be the Charadros. Pausanias mentions a temple of Ceres,
and an oracular fountain near the sea : the church of Saint Andrew
is in all probability built on its ruins; the pavement is composed
of rich marbles taken from some ancient edifice. Here are seve-
ral fragments of the Rosso and the Verde antico, and the purple and
green Porphyry. But the only thing which seems to identify the
place, is the fountain, which remains nearly as Pausanias describes it,
and is still an ccyiaa-pct, or sacred well, being dedicated to Saint
Andrew. It is inclosed in a wall, which being composed of small
stones and mortar, seems not to be of more ancient date than the
neighbouring church. Some steps lead down to it; a copper vessel
attached to a chain, which is fixed in the wall, affords the devout
or the curious the means" of satisfying their thirst. The water is
extremely cold and good. The church is completely in ruins, hav-
ing been destroyed by the Albanian Mohamedans in the year
1770. The Greeks have made large offers to the Turks for permis-
sion to rebuild it; but which they have not been able to obtain.
They are never permitted to erect new churches, -or to repair old
ones, unless by special favour, and a large sum of money. The
Greeks however, are always ready to contribute generously to what-
ever tends to the support of their religion. Saint Andrew's church
is held in great veneration; as it is supposed to contain the bones of
the apostle. On his anniversary day all the Greeks of Patra and
the neighbouring villages resort to the ruins to pray. Candles are
every night lighted in a shed, near which the body is thought to be
buried. Gibbon1 tells us that " the town was saved in the eighth
1 Vol. 10.
retains the name of Melikoukia, and supplies the whole town with
water. The Glaucos is probably a small stream, about three miles to
the south of Patra, on the way to Olympia: its present name is Leuka.
Another rivulet, called Sakena, enters the sea in two streams on
the road to Bostitza, at about two miles and a half from Patra;
this may be the Charadros. Pausanias mentions a temple of Ceres,
and an oracular fountain near the sea : the church of Saint Andrew
is in all probability built on its ruins; the pavement is composed
of rich marbles taken from some ancient edifice. Here are seve-
ral fragments of the Rosso and the Verde antico, and the purple and
green Porphyry. But the only thing which seems to identify the
place, is the fountain, which remains nearly as Pausanias describes it,
and is still an ccyiaa-pct, or sacred well, being dedicated to Saint
Andrew. It is inclosed in a wall, which being composed of small
stones and mortar, seems not to be of more ancient date than the
neighbouring church. Some steps lead down to it; a copper vessel
attached to a chain, which is fixed in the wall, affords the devout
or the curious the means" of satisfying their thirst. The water is
extremely cold and good. The church is completely in ruins, hav-
ing been destroyed by the Albanian Mohamedans in the year
1770. The Greeks have made large offers to the Turks for permis-
sion to rebuild it; but which they have not been able to obtain.
They are never permitted to erect new churches, -or to repair old
ones, unless by special favour, and a large sum of money. The
Greeks however, are always ready to contribute generously to what-
ever tends to the support of their religion. Saint Andrew's church
is held in great veneration; as it is supposed to contain the bones of
the apostle. On his anniversary day all the Greeks of Patra and
the neighbouring villages resort to the ruins to pray. Candles are
every night lighted in a shed, near which the body is thought to be
buried. Gibbon1 tells us that " the town was saved in the eighth
1 Vol. 10.