Mon, Apr 20, 2020
The establishment of Agios Nikitas Church took place at the times when both Nikiti and Greece were flourishing. The settlement was established in the XIV century. The religious site was built only a few centuries later, in the XIX century. The decision about the construction of the church caused a variety of opinions among the residents of Nikiti. It was due to the place of the building construction. Each of the inhabitants wanted to live closer to the religious center of the settlement.
As a result, they chose a special place. It was a fortress, used by the Turkish soldiers for quartering in the village in the past. It is worth to mention that before, there were no other religious sites here. Later, the residents of Nikiti destroyed the fortress. In 1867, they established the Church of Agios Nikitas in its place. The site got its name thanks to the inhabitants of Nikiti. They chose the name by giving their preference to the name of the patron saint of the village.
After the establishment, the Church of Agios Nikitas has become the center of the public life of the village. The size and the magnificence of the church reflected the village’s prosperity. People in Nikiti usually started all the celebrations from a church service. There is still a strong connection between public and religious life in Greece.
The brightest and most significant celebration in Nikiti is the day of Saint Nikitas. It takes place on September 15. Thousands of pilgrims from all over Halkidiki annually joined the festive event. It usually began with a visit to a church. After that, the residents of Nikiti continued the festive event by banqueting at the square. The Nikiti residents also arranged a huge market, offering a rich choice of sweets, souvenirs, and gifts. At present, the significance of a celebration significantly decreased, but people try to bring the old traditions back.