There is a woman, old in age yet great in bravery, boldness and courage. Her name is Kyra (Mrs) Rinio. Many confuse her with another woman-guardian of Hellenism on our border rocky islets, the kyra (lady) of Ro. They are not much different. Both heroines, one passed away in 1982, at the age of 92, the other still lives, all alone, like the lady of Ro, guardian of our border where there is only sea, steep rocks and a Greek flag, which the only resident of Kinaros raises every day with pride. as did the lady of Ro. But what will happen when kyra Rinio leaves to meet the lady of Ro in Paradise?
Eva Metis Koutoumanou
Mrs. Irene Katsotourhi, the well-known kyra Rinio and only resident of the island, recently had a whole team of craftsmen on the island completely reconstructing her house before winter comes.
The total reconstruction of kyra Rinio's house on the border island of Kinaros was carried out with the exclusive sponsorship of Motor Oil and in collaboration with the Aegean Team.
According to a relevant announcement, "The Motor Oil Group, with a high sense of social responsibility, travels to the Dodecanese, proving in practice its timeless care and contribution where there is a need. In this particular case, too, the need lies on the border island of Kinaros. An island in the northern part of the Dodecanese, with an area of 4,577 acres, with a single inhabitant. Mrs. Irene Katsotourhi or Kyra Rinio."
The project started a few months ago, in spring 2024, and was successfully completed. The aim of the project is this winter Kyra Rinio's house to be shielded against the harsh weather conditions prevailing on the island, with the technical interventions that were carried out, such as building, waterproofing, new frames, new electrical and plumbing installations, as well as renewed household equipment. This is the most complete holistic renovation that has been carried out to date in the house of the akritissa of Kinaros.
According to the relevant announcement, this action is an initiative of the Aegean Team, which is implemented with the full funding of Motor Oil. The Aegean Team (Omada Aigaiou) aims to improve and support the small and remote islands of the Archipelago through the provision of medical services, upgrading of infrastructure and conduct of cultural activities.
Kinaros is the second westernmost island of the Dodecanese after Astypalea. It is located between Cyclades and Dodecanese, west of Kalymnos and Leros and east of Amorgos.
Kyra Rinio, the only resident of Kinaros, is the sweetest and maybe the loneliest grandmother in Greece yet she never complains, she loves the island and her solitude if that's what it takes. She has been living alone on Kinaros for years. She was born in Amorgos and initially grew up on Kinaros, until she emigrated with her family to Australia. The life of Irene Katsotourhi was divided between Kalymnos and Australia until she and her husband Mike returned to Greece and decided to settle permanently on Kinaros.
"My father asked me to take over Kinaros island because he had grown old and I did it because I love this island," kyra Rinio once said.
Since 2013, after the death of her husband, Mike, Kyra Rinio was left alone, but she did not leave her beloved place and made the brave decision to do something that few people would dare to do, stay on the island all alone against the harsh winters and the relentless waves that often leave the island cut off for weeks.
Kyra Rinio's only companion is Shiva, her beloved dog, who stands as a guard next to her. A few chickens, some sheep and some wild goats, which wander carefree on the island, are the only other creatures we meet on entire Kinaros.
Regarding what everyday life and winters are like on Kinaros, but also how she ended up not leaving the island herself, Kyra Rinio said that:
"Every morning on the island is tiring. I wake up at 6 o'clock, feed the goats, then go to the church which is a kilometer away, light the candles, finish the necessary chores, go downhill and start again... Once there were many residents here, but then only my father, named Theraios, remained. I went to Australia, returned back to Kalymnos and when my father asked me to take over Kinaros watch because he had grown too old, I did it because I love the island."
"My two children are in Kalymnos and the older one is in Australia. My little son comes as soon as he finds a fishing boat. Winter is difficult on the island. With the cold and bad weather there is no boat. The southerly winds do not allow a boat to enter the port. For the supplies, there is a boat that comes every 15 days from Aegiali."
However, she has stated that not only does she not want to leave the island, despite all the adversity and difficulties, but also that "she does not miss anything".
Watch the beautiful Kinaro from above and the house of Kyra Rinio before and after the impressive reconstruction (video)
We cannot help but wonder what will happen when, at some point – many, many years later – Kyra. Rinio goes up to Paradise to meet the lady of Ro and her beloved Mike? Who will be there, on borderland Kinaro, raising the Greek flag every day? What if the island is left without any inhabitants? And we also wonder why there are no programs, like in other countries, to motivate young people, Greek women and men, to settle on the island, along with their families, so that the island can come back to life and help Kyra Rinio with her difficult task, keeping Hellenism alive on this borderland yet so important part of Greece?
