Churches and Cemeteries
The churches of Kambos
The churches of Kambos were an important part of its architecture. They were small basilicas built with stones from Thymiana village.
Today, there are mostly orthodox churches but in earlier years there were many dedicated to Catholicism. Only saint Isidore of the Catholics and the catholic virgin Mary are functioning catholic churches today. The churches were initially owned by people. They were located inside the orchards of the big aristocratic families of Kambos who built and maintained them and organized feasts during the name day of the saint to whom each church was dedicated. But there were also guild and fraternity churches.
Still today, the names of the churches reveal their past ownership: Saint Isidore of the Petrokokkinos family, Saint Theodoros of the Skylitsis family, Saint Tryphon of the Agelastos family, and so on. Most churches that exist in Kambos today have a history going back to the 17th and 18th centuries. They were, however, restored after the massacres of 1822 and the earthquake of 1881. Some (Christ, Aghiodektini, Saint Vlassis) adopted new architectural orders, but they preserved the characteristic type of the belltower of Chios.
The cemeteries of Kambos
There is no central cemetery in Kambos because the habitations are scattered around the area. So, cemeteries started developing in the courtyards of the churches, initially for the owners of the churches and later everybody. Often, we can see impressive marble burial monuments belonging to members of noble families.
The tombs usually have inscribed emotional epigrams or have elaborate representations with coats of arms and other symbols. The more important tombs are large and surrounded by railings, but there are also smaller and simpler tombs.
For example, in the church of the Virgin Mary of Kokorovilia, in Giazou, inside the pebble flooring of the church one can find the tombs of important members of various families of Kambos. Practically, Kokorovilia was the most important burial point for the nobles of Kambos.
