Santorini
Population: 15,500 (2011)
ISLAND OVERVIEW
Santorini officially Thira or Thera, is an island in the southern Aegean Sea. It forms the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands and is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago, which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. The caldera is circular and entirely filled with water at a depth of 400 m. In fact, it is the only sunken caldera in the world. The volcano’s crater is called Nea Kameni and the coastline has red and black volcanic beaches.
Santorini is one of the most famous, well developed and popular islands in the Cyclades. The caldera being surrounded by gigantic cliffs on top of which beautiful villages have been constructed. The capital of Santorini is Fira which boasts whitewashed villas and 5-star accommodation. The main port of Santorini is Athinios, and it gets jam-packed in summer.
Santorini’s primary industry is tourism although the island has a strong winemaking industry, based on the indigenous Assyrtiko grape
The island is still home to a Catholic community and the seat of a Catholic bishopric.
Ferries connect from Santorini to Athens and from many different islands of the Aegean Sea (Mykonos, Crete, Paros, Naxos & more).
There is a small church on the island.
The Island & Its History
click image to view in Google Maps
About 3,600 years ago the island was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history.
The eruption left a large water-filled caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of metres deep
A large town is in the process of being excavated from the ash of one of the eruptions, it shows an advanced civilisation with perhaps the oldest hot and cold water supplies and many other signs of a sophisticated and wealthy population.
Santorini is expected to erupt again in the, historically, near future. However, it currently remains an active tourist hotspot, where cruise ships anchor in the caldera and the international airport is one of the largest in the islands.
Santorini retained its privileged position in the 17th century, but suffered in turn from Venetian raids during the frequent Ottoman–Venetian wars of the period.
The island became definitively part of the independent Kingdom of Greece in 1832.
During the Second World War, Santorini was occupied in 1941 by Italian and then German forces. In 1944, the German and Italian garrison on Santorini was raided by a group of British Special Boat Service Commandos, killing most of its men. Five locals, including the mayor, were later shot in reprisal.
Prayer Points
- The people on the island will realize their need for God and their eyes will be opened to the truth and love of God through reading the Bible for themselves.
- The Lord will work in the lives of all the God-fearing religious people already living on this island, and bring healing & refreshment to their lives.
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If you are committed to praying for this island and its region, please drop us a note, we would love to know about it and keep you posted with prayer updates!
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