Orthodox churches and trees

[prodromos]

My son has just spent a few days away at Sunday School camp where he learned about St Theodora Basta and in particular the church which honours her in Arkadia, Greece.

The church has 17 trees growing from the roof with no sign of any roots!

Inside the church

There are also some short clips on youtube
St Theodora Basta church. - YouTube

 

[prodromos]

Anyway, when he told us about this church, it reminded us of another church in the village of Samarina (highest village in Greece) where the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos has a pine tree growing from the roof of the sanctuary, again with no roots.

There is a short video showing inside the sanctuary at the following link. Its all in Greek I'm afraid.
Holy Temple of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Samarina, Grevena

Has anyone else come across Orthodox churches which defy nature in some way?

 

[Gxg (G²)]

My son has just spent a few days away at Sunday School camp where he learned about St Theodora Basta and in particular the church which honours her in Arkadia, Greece.

The church has 17 trees growing from the roof with no sign of any roots!

Inside the church

There are also some short clips on youtube
Το εσωτερικό της Αγίας Θεοδώρας με τα δÎ[bless and do not curse]ντρα στη σκεπή. - YouTube

Anyway, when he told us about this church, it reminded us of another church in the village of Samarina (highest village in Greece) where the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos has a pine tree growing from the roof of the sanctuary, again with no roots.

There is a short video showing inside the sanctuary at the following link. Its all in Greek I'm afraid.
Holy Temple of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Samarina, Grevena

Has anyone else come across Orthodox churches which defy nature in some way?

Beautiful pics - the trees remind me of the following:

Psalm 52:8
“Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it is good.
Psalm 52:7-9

​

But on your question, the Church of St. Theodora was the only one I could think of with outside of the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos

 

[Kristos]

That's very interesting!

 

[Joseph Hazen]

No roots?! They're rooted in Tradition!

Ba-dump, ching!

 

[RosaryChaplet9]

Cool

 

[Dorothea]

That is awesome, John!

 

[E.C.]

THAT IS SO COOL!

 

[ArmyMatt]

I think I heard about that first one, and I think that the weight of the trees should crush the Church. tis another thing that baffles the nonbelievers.

 

[prodromos]

At the monastery of St John the Forerunner near Veroia (Berea), a massive boulder had broken from the cliff face and fallen a few metres onto the roof of one of their chapels.

It bounced off the roof and came to rest beside the chapel!

 

[Brother Bread]

Wow. I love old things, they have a mystery about them and fill you with faith.

 

[seashale76]

Then you've also got the very cool church 'in' a tree:

Church in a tree at Plataniotissa - YouTube

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Then you've also got the very cool church 'in' a tree:

Church in a tree at Plataniotissa - YouTube

Whoa....

That's bananas how that was developed - mind blown

 

[prodromos]

Wow, I can just imagine an ascetic monk living and praying in there. When I saw the video title, I had pictures of a small prefabricated chapel built in the branches of a tree in my head. Then I watched, and as G-squared so aptly put it, Mind=blown!

 

[Gnarwhal]

Does anyone know what type of trees were growing out of the church in Arkadia? Just curious...

 

[prodromos]

Does anyone know what type of trees were growing out of the church in Arkadia? Just curious...

Britannica says there are patches of oak forests in the area and no olive trees.
A further search found a study by University of Patra

After an onsite estimation of the situation it was decided that the high-frequency georadar would be used on the walls of the building together with electrical tomography with very small electrodes, so as to have a double check on the methodology. The results of the investigation threw ample light to the mystery and gave the Direction of Restoration of Byzantine and After Byzantine Monuments all the answers they needed to proceed safely to the restoration of the Church of Saint Theodora. It was proved that the roots follow the gaps existing inside the side stonewall creating repulsion stresses between the stones and thus they reach the ground. This leads to the creation of a net of roots that reinforces the building from a static point of view opposing the roof load but also destroying the stonewalls. It was also proved that the south wall is almost intact while there seems to be a particular void in the north wall

Vastas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Its still incredible

 

[Dewi Sant]

I too read that report and though it demystifies the phenomenon (I could see the roots poking through the ceiling), it is still a beautiful image to see the church building as being embraced by the life of the trees.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Wow, I can just imagine an ascetic monk living and praying in there. When I saw the video title, I had pictures of a small prefabricated chapel built in the branches of a tree in my head. Then I watched, and as G-squared so aptly put it, Mind=blown!

Sometimes you wonder what the Lord thought on the issue before it manifested into our realm of existence - as in how he intended for it to be seen...

 

[BraveMommy]

That is so weird and completely amazing! God can do all things!