Greek Army commandos and mountaineering volunteers completed a high-altitude restoration mission at the summit of Mount ...

Greek Army commandos and mountaineering volunteers completed a high-altitude restoration mission at the summit of Mount Taygetos on October 21, reinforcing the ancient stone chapel of Prophet Elijah before winter sets in. The chapel sits at 2,407 metres (7,897 feet) above sea level, crowning the highest peak in the Peloponnese near Sparta. Specialists from the General Staff's Directorate for Construction and Natural Disaster Response (DIKAFKA) led the technical work alongside volunteer mountaineers from Mani, Corinth, Gytheio, and the Mountaineering Club of Kalamata. Military helicopters flew construction materials directly to the rocky summit, since there is no other practical way to get heavy supplies to that elevation. The team installed seven wooden roof beams to handle winter snow loads, added six structural columns secured with metal clamps, repaired the wooden entrance door, patched damaged roof sections, and sealed masonry gaps with bonding foam. They also collected ten large bags of rubbish left behind by summer hikers and pack animals across the alpine zone. The chapel holds particular significance for the Greek military because Prophet Elijah is the patron saint of Greek Army Aviation, which is why the General Staff treats its upkeep as a priority. Deputy Defence Minister Thanasis Davakis thanked philanthropist Thanasis Martinos for funding the building materials and praised the DIKAFKA engineers and volunteers for the effort. Davakis also expressed frustration at the state of the site before the cleanup, urging visitors to treat the chapel and surrounding environment with respect. Regional alpine clubs will now carry out monitoring to keep the restored chapel in good condition going forward. #Greece #GreekArmy #MountTaygetos