Volakas is one of those beautiful areas of Syros with sunset views over the sea that has become a "millionaire only zone" full of villas with swimming pools and long driveways blocked off by big electric gates. Along its northern edge you will see that Volakas is also home to several exclusive unfinished hotel developments which stand today as empty shells.
The area of Volakas is well worth visiting for the dramatic views alone but quite possibly, like me, you'll remember it for the near endless opportunities the area provides to stare at homes you wish you could afford but can't. It's also worth visiting to find the cache hidden by the church, of course.
The church of Agios Efraim (Saint Efraim) lies in the centre of Volakas and as is fitting for the area is very clean and well-maintained.
The story of Efraim, a new saint of the Orthodox Church, is an interesting one.
In 1950, a hermit nun called Makaria Desipri had a series of dreams which she believed contained divine orders to rebuild a ruined monastery in Nea Makri, near Athens. During the excavations, the remains of a monk's cell containing human bones was discovered and the nun duly declared these to be the holy relics of Efraim, a monk of whom no historical record exists, who she said had been martyred 524 years previously when invading Turks destroyed the monastery and hanged him from a mulberry tree. Over the next half century, the monk's relics became venerated and numerous healing miracles were associated with them. Many thousands of people wanting the saint's help with their own or a loved one's illnesses visit the newly restored and very wealthy monastery each year. In 1998, the synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece declared Efraim a saint on the basis of divine revelation alone. Due to an argument between the monastery and the Archbishop of Athens over who owned the saint's bones, the Patriarch delayed confirming the canonisation until 2011. Efraim is venerated on both January 3, the anniversary of when the bones were dug up, and May 5 ,the anniversary of when he was hanged from the mulberry tree (which can itself be seen at the monastery).
W (a.k.a. DidianRay)
