Every year on the 15th of August we celebrate and honor the Virgin Mary, the Great Mother, all over Greece and all over the world. Majestic temples and small beautiful churches are dedicated to Her Grace and many of them adorn the Greek islands giving visitors and locals the opportunity to light a candle or fulfill a vow.
Eva Koutoumanou
Personally, I have always preferred the small churches, the ones you find on the Greek islands perched on the rocks, where when you enter you feel calm and calm.
We singled out some of the most beautiful Virgin Marys of the Greek islands and, although the choice of the place where everyone will feel beautiful inside and close to the Divine is personal, if you find yourself in the following islands take some time to visit them.
Panagia Chrysopigi, Sifnos
A small bridge connects Sifnos with the islet where the Monastery of Panagia Chrysopigi dominates quietly and stately. According to tradition, during the years of the Corsairs the monastery was inhabited by nuns. In a raid on the island a nun did not manage to leave the monastery quickly and begged the Virgin Mary to save her and the miracle happened. The bay was split in two and the raiders fell into the sea.
Panagia tis Koimiseos, Folegandros
On the rock above Chora, probably on the site of an ancient temple, is built the church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and it is the largest church on the island. The icon kept in the church is said to be miraculous and is associated with many stories of pirates and legends.
Panagia Tourliani, Milos
On the hill above Klima in Milos is the church of Panagia Tourliani. Inside there are very old Orthodox icons while the view from the courtyard is unique especially when the sun sets and offers one of the most enchanting sunsets on the "island of colors" and Aphrodite.
Panagia Portaitissa, Astypalea
Panagia Portaitissa, with its beautiful bell tower, dominates high in Chora of Astypalea and is one of the most beautiful churches in the Dodecanese. It is located at the foot of the Venetian castle, at Rodia, and was founded by Saint Anthimos in the middle of the 18th century. The church stands out for its wood-carved gilded iconostasis, which is unique in its kind. Tradition says that the icon of the Virgin Mary has been imprinted on the wood and that it is the same as that of the monastery of Iviron on Mount Athos. Next to the church, there is an interesting Ecclesiastical Museum with a small collection of old and rare icons.
Panagia Hozoviotissa, Amorgos
The Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa is, perhaps, the most impressive monastery of the Cyclades, built inside a cliff, in the southern part of Amorgos, at an altitude of 300 meters and overlooking the endless blue of the Aegean Sea. To visit it you should be prepared for a relatively easy but long climb with many steps where, however, you will be welcomed by the monks with Turkish delights and you will enjoy a view that will surely "take your breath away". The monastery was built in 1088 and renovated by the Byzantine emperor Alexios Komninos. The reason for the construction of the monastery was the finding of an icon of the Virgin Mary that arrived from Hozovo or Hozova in Palestine. It is said that due to the persecution of Christians in the 9th century, the icon was moved and miraculously arrived on Amorgos. Legend has it that the location was chosen by the Virgin Mary herself. Although the monastery underwent several changes over the centuries, and especially during the Venetian era (1296-1537), its special character was not altered. In fact, for 900 years it has been inhabited continuously, without interruption, even during the Turkish occupation.
Panagia Thalassini, Andros
On the rock, at the entrance of Chora, is Panagia Thalassini, a small and beautiful church. For the locals, Panagia Thalassini protects those who travel by sea, along with Agios Nikolaos. According to tradition, one stormy night the locals saw a strange light coming from the sea to the beach and following it led them to a cave where they saw the icon of the Virgin Mary. After worshipping her, they transferred her to the chapel of Agios Athanasios. The next day, however, the icon had been returned to the cave and so the islanders decided to build a church in honor of the Virgin Mary above this cave and so Panagia Thalassini was built.
Panagia Spiliani, Nisyros
Built on a high rock, in the Castle of Mandraki, is the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani. In August, the Ninemerites, the women who have made a vow to spend nine days and nights praying in the monastery, prepare, dressed in black, during the Orthos, kollyvas accompanied by laments. In the temple a table is prepared for the faithful and the kollyva are shared.
Panagia Tourliani, Mykonos
The Monastery of Panagia Tourliani is the most important monastery of Mykonos. It is located in Ano Mera, Mykonos, a few kilometers from Chora and according to tradition it was built by fugitive monks of Paros, who sought asylum on the island of Mykonos. The monks took refuge in the upper part of the island, in the small church of Panagia, where Nun Tourli served, and so the monastery of the patron saint of the island took her name.
Of course, there are also the large churches of the Greek islands dedicated to the Virgin Mary and these days they are visited by hundreds of believers daily. The most famous are Panagia Evangelistria in Tinos, Panagia Paleokastritsa in Corfu, Panagia Agiasos in Lesvos - with the miraculous icon of Panagia Vrechokratousa, which has been painted by Luke the Evangelist with mastic and wax - and Panagia Ekatontapiliani in Paros.
