Last updated on December 20, 2023.

Kos Town has a lot of churches, mostly for the Greek Orthodox faithful. Of all the churches I passed by, three churches stuck out above the rest.

 

Agia Paraskevi

The first is Agia Paraskevi, which is a Greek Orthodox church located in the old town. It was built in 1932 and has a gorgeous interior full of icons and a marble floor.

Church of Agia Paraskevi in Kos, Greece
Church of Agia Paraskevi
Church of Agia Paraskevi in Kos, Greece
Interior of the Church of Agia Paraskevi

 

Catholic Church

Kos has a small Catholic community, and there used to be three Catholic churches on the island. The only one remaining sits on the outskirts of the town to the south. It’s dedicated to the Holy Cross but is often called Agnus Dei. The church was built in the 1920s and had to be rebuilt by the Italians after a devastating earthquake in 1933. On the outside is a small memorial to Italian military officers executed by the Nazis in 1943.

Catholic Church in Kos, Greece
Catholic Church
Catholic Church in Kos, Greece
Interior of the Catholic Church
Memorial for Italian officers in Kos, Greece
Memorial for Italian officers

 

Baptistry of St. John

One of the most remarkable sites in Kos Town is a tiny Byzantine chapel called the Baptistry of St. John. It was built in the 7th or 8th century AD and has seven columns inside.

Baptistry of St. John in Kos, Greece
Baptistry of St. John
Baptistry of St. John in Kos, Greece
Baptistry of St. John

The iconostasion is from 1675. It has many murals from the 12th and 13th centuries. This baptistry is the only one of its kind in the world and now serves as a chapel for a cemetery. It’s worth going out of the way for. The caretaker is very enthusiastic to show it to visitors. It’s located near the Catholic church.

Baptistry of St. John in Kos, Greece
Baptistry of St. John
Baptistry of St. John in Kos, Greece
Baptistry of St. John
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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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