The sacred styrax of Astyraki
The village of Astyraki in the province of Malevizi takes its name from the ancient styrax (locally called astyrakas), a centuries-old tree that can still be found today in the courtyard of the church of Saint Constantine and Helen. Styrax, also known as wild quince, belongs to the species Styrax officinalis, which is often found in mountainous areas of the island.
This particular tree has been believed to have sacred properties. It is said that the villagers once placed icons in honor of their saints in the ruins of a collapsed temple in another part of the village. However, the icon of Saints Constantine and Helen miraculously moved repeatedly to the root of the ancient tree. So they decided to build the temple on this spot.
According to tradition, the trees of styrax originally existed in Crete and later spread to other regions of Greece. The ancient Cretans used styrax for the production of a kind of incense, which they dedicated to the worship of the god Apollo. In fact, the name Styrakitis Apollon (Apollo of Styrax) is also mentioned, as well as Styrakion Oros (mount of Styrax). Styrax was also widely used for its hard wood, but even today it is used as a medicinal product.
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