Agios Sostis is a small village located at the borders of Arcadia

Arcadia

Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...

, Elis and Messinia peripheral units, in southern Greece

Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

. It is part of the municipal unit Eira

Eira, Messenia

Eira is a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oichalia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 1027 . The seat of the municipality was in Neda....

. It lies at an altitude of 850m measured at the bridge and 900m measured at the upper part of the village. Agios Sostis' history is closely related to the historical region of Gorena – the ancient city of Lykoa according to archaeologists - situated in the northwestern part of Mount Lykaion

Lycaeus

Lykaion is a mountain in Arcadia. Lykaion has two peaks, the northern one higher than the southern , where the altar of Zeus is located. Mount Lykaion is sacred to Zeus Lykaios, who was said to have been born and brought up on it, and was the home of Pelasgus and his son Lycaon, who is said to...

 and next to the settlement of Tsouraki (a Turkish word for a small hut). Agios Sostis is mostly known for the church of Saint John

John the Apostle

John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...

 (Agios Ioannis or Ayannis in Greek). The church is built on the ruins of a Byzantine

Byzantine

Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...

 monastery that the Franks

Franks

The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...

 destroyed in the 14th century. Excavations began after a vision seen by Yannis Constantopoulos. During these excavations, 60 cells, a golden tong, a chalice

Chalice (cup)

A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for drinking during a ceremony.-Christian:...

 and a limestone cross

Cross

A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...

were found. The neighboring villages contributed to the construction of the church and established an annual feast held at the August 29, attracting many visitors from nearby villages.