The chapel of Prophet Elias

The chapel of Prophet Elias in Kaimaktsalan: a monument of memory and emotion

At the top of Kaimaktsalan, in a breathtaking landscape, stands a small church that is different from any other Christian church in Greece. It is the chapel of Prophet Elias, which is not only a religious landmark, but also a silent monument dedicated to the memory of the thousands of Serbian soldiers who fell in the Battle of Kaimaktsalan during the First World War.

The church was built on the initiative of the Serbs, after a concession from the Greek authorities, as a tribute to the soldiers who died in 1916 fighting for freedom. The location is not accidental; it is at the highest point of the mountain, where the fiercest battles were fought. The experience of climbing to the top is demanding, but the awe that one feels upon reaching there is overwhelming.

The chapel itself bears symbolism and materials from the war era. Its fence includes barbed wire, similar to the one used by the Bulgarians in their trenches, while the courtyard is lined with shells and cross-shaped caps. Marble inscriptions, in both Greek and Serbian, speak of the sacrifice and honour of the fallen.

Inside the church is a marble amphora, which houses the ashes of Rudolf Archibald Rice, a philholic Swiss journalist who dedicated his life to highlighting Serbian sacrifice and martyrdom during the First World War. His presence in this sacred space symbolically links the truth of war with the testimony of humanity.

Today, the chapel of Prophet Elias is a moving stop for hikers, climbers and any visitor who wishes to honour the historical memory. It is not just a place of worship, but a place of collective remembrance, deep emotion and silent reverence.