The Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, are the patron saints of Gaios, and this is their church. It belongs to the Tranakas and Youlios families and appears in the catalogue of 1686.
Its iconostasis and the despotic icons were painted in 1714 by two craftsmen from Ioannina, Antonis Nomikos and Nikolaos Chorafas, for the price of fourteen reals. Among the older oil paintings of the iconostasis is a Christ on the veil of Veronica held by angels, reckoned in the nineteenth century to be among the best painting on the island. Inside there is also a Renaissance stall and the tomb of the Kafiris family.
The church was renovated in 1858, and the fine bell tower, crowned with a double-headed eagle, carries the date 28 June 1860. It stands beside the cemetery of Gaios.
Tradition places here the grave of Gaios and Krispos, the disciples who are said to have brought Christianity to the island; by another old tradition it was the Apostle Paul himself who landed on Paxos and drove every venomous creature from it. Islanders used to take earth from the church for three days as a charm against snakes.
Feast day: 29 and 30 June, the biggest day of the year in Gaios.
Getting there: in Gaios, just behind the bus stop.
