Agios Efstratios
Population: 270 (2011)
ISLAND OVERVIEW
Agios Efstratios is a small Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea about 30 kilometres (19 miles) southwest of Lemnos and 80 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of Lesbos. Together with Lemnos and nearby islets, it forms the regional unit of Lemnos, part of the North Aegean archipelago.
Agios Efstratios is a quiet, rocky and isolated island. There is little in the way of crops and vegetation as locusts are a recurring problem! Fishing is the main occupation on the island and beaches abound. The climate is arid, with little rainfall during the winter months and long, hot summers.
The island has one port, which offers year-round ferry connections to Lemnos, Agios Konstantinos, Kymi and Kavala. There is also a small heliport on the village outskirts, but it is used mostly for emergency airlifts, coast guard, and as a stopover for military helicopters.
Agios Efstratios has planned to become the country’s first “green” island, entirely powered by renewable energy sources. Although progress on this is unknown at the time of writing.
The Island & Its History
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The island was named after Saint Eustratius who lived on the island in the 9th century as an exile. To this day, the residents still show his grave. The island is mentioned in the Isolario by Cristoforo Buondelmonti in 1420 as Sanstrati. It was also known as “Bozbaba” during Ottoman rule.
Agios Efstratios was used to house political prisoners in internal exile since the 1930s. After Makronisos it became the largest prison island in the Aegean. During the Greek military junta of 1967–74, the island was again used as a prison for political dissidents.
On 19 February 1968, an earthquake (7.1 on the Richter scale) demolished most of the houses, which were replaced by concrete prefabricated buildings laid out in a military-like camp formation. However, the island retains a lovely capital.
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.
ADOPT THIS ISLAND
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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