Since the Middle Ages, the island’s most southeastern edge has been guarded by the small church of Saint Sozontas. According to tradition, a shepherd from the nearby town of Fisini discovered the saint’s icon there, and no matter how many times he carried it back to the village, the icon would somehow return to the seaside. So the church was built there, next to the holy water, i.e. a well with fresh water. Another legend states that Saint Sozontas once made his own cape into a boat and saved seamen who were drowning at sea.

Saint Sozon became the patron saint of Lemnos when the three-day celebration was established in the early twentieth century. According to legend, it was the sailors of Lemnos who helped establish St. Sozon as the patron saint of Lemnos. They claimed that seeing the modest, all-white chapel at the southeast end of the island glowing from away on the sea, they would find the strength to continue, while sailing their boats.

These days, September 7 marks Saint Sozon Day when people make the pilgrimage to this little church, arriving from all over the world to pray and gather in their hometown.