Holy Nile of Myrovliti, Orthodox church in central Piraeus, Greece.
The Holy Nile of Myrovliti is an Orthodox church on G. Theotoki Street in Kallipoli, Piraeus, standing between Herodotou, Antoniou Theochari and Spyridon Trikoupis streets. Begun in 1928 as a small church at Eleni Mamai's initiative, it was rebuilt in its present form from 1956 and inaugurated in November 1973. It is the only church dedicated to Saint Nile of Kynouria, the ascetic of Mount Athos whose relics exuded myrrh.
A small church dedicated to Saint Nilus the Myroblyte was first built here in 1928 on the initiative of Eleni Mamai. Reconstruction in its present form began in 1956, the work was completed in November 1973 and the church was then inaugurated. It is the only church dedicated to this saint, an ascetic of Mount Athos from Kynouria whose relics exuded myrrh; part of them is kept here, the rest at Mount Athos.
The neighbourhood takes its name from the church, and the area is known as the birthplace of actor Dimitris Papamichail. It also appears in Bagianteras rebetiko song "Apovradis xekinisa", performed by Vasilis Tsitsanis, and in "Paporaki" by Manos Loizos and Lefteris Papadopoulos, whose lyrics name Agios Neilos alongside Keratsini and Kokkinia.
The church stands in Kallipoli, at the edge of Ydreika, on the block bounded by Georgiou Theotokis, Herodotou, Antoniou Theochari and Spyridon Trikoupi streets. It is a parish in use, so time a visit outside services; modest dress is expected inside. The neighbourhood lies within Piraeus, reachable by city buses.
The church holds part of the relics of Saint Neilos the Myroblyte, a native of Kynouria who lived as an ascetic on Mount Athos and died on 12 November 1651; the rest of his relics were transferred to Mount Athos. It is the only church dedicated to this saint.
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