Church of Panagia Kavouradena on Leros

Panagia Kavouradena lies near the fishing village of Xerokambos on the southern Leros. When you arrive at Xerokampos you turn left, and continue along the coast until you see a sign that says Panagia Kavouradena on the right side. Walk through the gate, down to the sea, and there is the church.

The crab church close to Xerokampos in southern Leros. Kalymnos is in the background.

Apart from the priest, not many others can fit in the church.

Panagia Kavouradena seen from the other side.

Panagia Kavouradena is one of the smallest churches I have ever seen. Besides the priest there is almost no room for so many others. In the church - which is partly squeezed into a rock near the sea - there is a famous icon that gave the church its name: the virgin of the crabs.

According to the legend, a crab fisher found the icon in the sea outside the church. He picked it up and put it on the rock. The next night it disappeared. It is said that the crabs took the icon. But the crab fisher did not give up. He found the icon once again. Then they decided to build the little church for the icon so it would find peace, and everything since then has it been called the Crab Church.

Half of Panagia Kavouradena church is in a cave.

I do not know how it is with the degree of truth of the story, what I do know is that the church is very fascinating and well worth the trip. Outside the church there is a bench where you can sit and philosophize about life, and when you are done with that you can take a swim at the small beach next to the church.

The philosophical bench outside the crab church.

Outside the crab church I managed to photograph a cicada for the first and only time in Greece.

WHAT YOU MUST NOT MISS WHEN YOU VISIT THE CRAB CHURCH

Do not miss Xerokampos, which you can read about here »

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