The patron saint of Skopelos is Agios Riginos. He has a feast day on February 25th
Skopelos has managed to maintain much of its unique cultural foundation -its legends and rich traditions - despite the destruction of many of its historic and artistic monuments, castles and monasteries. As is the case throughout Greece, it is astonishing how myths and reality get interwoven in a unique way and the story of the patron saint of Skopelos illustrates this.
In the fourth century, Skopelos was a place of learning, highly developed, prosperous and possessed by a people of great spirituality.
St. Riginos was an educated Greek man with a strong desire to live a Christian life. The people of Skopelos heard of his piety and sought to make St. Riginos their bishop. They succeeded. However, when he arrived on the island at the beach of Elios, which means mercy, the people were being terrorised by a fearsome dragon. Riginos heard the cries of the people and confronted the beast.
He chased it to the area between Staphylos and Agnondas. There, at that spot the mountain broke apart and the dragon fell and was killed in the abyss. That site is today called "Dragon's Chasm". There is a small shrine at the spot where the dragon was killed.
As a bishop, St. Riginos participated in the Synod of Sardiki, nowadays Sofia, where he condemned the heresy of Areios. During the rule of the Emperor Julian (361-363 AD) the Governor of Greece visited the island and requested the Bishop to renounce his faith. Righinos refused and was executed, along with at least forty other inhabitants of Skopelos in the year 362 A.D. The spot is marked by a small shrine standing opposite the T junction where the road from town joins the ring road.
His remains were transferred to Cyprus, but parts of his relics were brought back to Skopelos where there is a shrine and a monastery built with his name.
The Monastery of Agios Riginou is located 2 km north-west of the city of Skopelos. The church was built in 1728 on the site of older places of worship. It was a Byzantine building, a one room basilica with dome, that was demolished in order to build a big cross-shaped cathedral type church. Behind the monastery are the remains of a Doric temple. In the courtyard is a small sarcophagus that is dated 4th century AD. Today the Abbey belongs to the Municipality of Skopelos and in the summer months is open all day for the faithful to pray.
On the eve of the saint's day there is a service held at Christos, where the remains of the Saint are held. The following day the townspeople make a procession from Christos to the monastery, taking the holy relics with them. They attend a service and afterwards return the relics to Christos. A commemorative service is also held at the Palio Ghiofiri, the small shrine at the T junction opposite the restaurant ‘Nastas', on the site of the Saint’s execution.
Troparion - prayer to St Riginos
Thy righteous acts have manifested thee to thy flock as a model of faith, a reflection of humility, and a teacher of abstinence, O Father Bishop Riginos. Therefore, through humilty thou hast achieved exaltation, and through poverty, riches. Intercede thou with Christ God to save our souls.