With the few belongings they managed to grab amid the panic, 25 residents of the Akrotiri community found shelter at the Holy Monastery of Saint George of the Caves, in Erimi. A monastery that brings peace to the soul, a place of prayer that has been transformed into a refuge of hope.
Archimandrite Dimitrianos explained how it all began: “The municipality asked us for help during the evacuation. We immediately contacted Metropolitan Athanasios, who gave his blessing. Since the day before yesterday, families have been arriving continuously. Each one stays in a separate room.”
Residents were forced to leave their homes as soon as the sirens sounded, following the interception of two drones by military fighter jets. There are no shelters in the Akrotiri area — some went to relatives, others stayed at the Erimi school, while families with children were transferred to hotels.
Mrs Doxoula, one of the guests, described the moment simply: “We took only the absolute essentials. We’re waiting to be told when we can go back.” In their room — two beds, a wardrobe, and very few belongings.
No one knows how long this ordeal will last. The evacuation order remains in effect, with authorities urging residents not to return. Until then, the monastery is not merely a place of accommodation — it is a point of courage, with everyone sharing the hope that this trial will end as soon as possible.
