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'''Panagia of Tinos''' [, also known as the '''Megalochari of Tinos''' (Great Grace) or '''Evangelistriaof Tinos''' (Our Lady of Good Tidings) '''of Tinos'''] , is the declared the national patron [[saint ]] of the Greek Nation since Greece, because its discovery coincided with the very first days of the creation of the modern Greek State. It , and has since become the most venerated religious icons [[icon]]s in all of Greece. It has three festivals in the Church calendar: The anniversay of the finding of the icon ([[January 30|30 Jan]]); The major shrine is located on [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25|Mar 25]]); and the anniversary of the tiny island vision of St. [[Pelagia of Tinos]] ([[July 23]]). The icon was rediscovered miraculously, attracted many pilgrims from all over Greece, and the construction of the Cyclades Church of GreecePanagia Evangelistria was begun and completed by 1830.

Thee major festival of the church ==History==The icon is [[August 15]] to celebrate the Dormition a beautiful portrayal of the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]]kneeling with her head bent in prayer. There are three other festivals associated with It is regarded as being older than the Byzantine period, and many scholars regard this icon, [[January 30]], to be the anniversary work of finding the icon; [[March 25Apostle]], the and [[Annunciation of the Virgin MaryEvangelist]]; [[July 23Apostle Luke|Luke]], . It is assumed that this icon was so highly esteemed in the anniversary of Byzantine era it was either hidden or lost around the vision time of the St. [[Pelagia of Tinos|Pelagia]]Moslem invasions.

==How to get there==To get According to the islandtradition, know also as the "Island ''Mother of the Winds"God'' appeared to Sister Pelagia, one must take a state ferry local [[nun]] from Athens. The voyage will take approximately three hours. Disembarking at the port, a few 100 metres to the left, a [[pilgrimMonastery of Kechrovouniou (Tinos, Greece)|Monastery of Kechrovouniou]] is confronted by the second largest street known as requesting her to unearth a wonder-working icon buried. The sister ignored this vision on many occasions considering that it was merely her imagination, however, the ''Leoforos MegalocharesVirgin Mary'' (the Street of Great Joy) which leads up appeared to her one final time and rebuked the neo-classical church at the top of the steep slope. This street is heavily lined with merchants, on either side, selling ecclesiastical bits nun for her disbelief and pieces such as oil lamps, replica icons, postcards etcwarned her that she would fall ill if she continuted to resist.

It is traditional The tradition continues that the sister visited the [[bishop]] for his thoughts on her visions. A few years earlier, another local had visited the bishop for many pilgrims the same request by the ''Mother of God''. The bishop, therefore, believed that these visions were authentic, and he rang the church bells to crawl gather the entire length of this street on their hands town and knees, crossing themselves first, as a physical ascetical offering in preparation inform them of meeting the icon of Tinos. This offering should be done in supplication, or thanksgiving for prayers answered or in repentancerequest.

==History==The icon is a beautiful portrayal of the Virgin Mary kneeling with her head bent Excavations commenced in prayerSeptember 1822. It is regarded as being older than While searching for the Byzantine period. Many scholars regard this icon to even be the work , ruins of the a small old Byzantine [[Apostlechapel]] were found and [[Evangelist]] [[Apostle Luke|Luke]]. It is assumed that this icon was so highly esteemed in turn covered the Byzantine era it was either hidden or lost around the time foundations of a 4th-century edifice that had been dedicated to the Moslem invasions. The icon was rediscovered miraculously and the construction of a church was begun Virgin Mary and completed by 1830St. Even before this church was finished, pilgrims started visiting [[John the island of Tinos from all of GreeceBaptist]]. Numerous reports of miracles have increased In the fame of this Church vision to Pelagia, the point Virgin Mary had told her that this is church had been burnt down in the most venerated icon in all of Greece10th-century by Arab pirates.

In 1842The cornerstone for the church was laid on [[January 1]], a Greek criminal 1823 and the chapel was named Christodoulos Dimitriadis hid in one honour of the overhanging balconies [[Life-Giving Spring|"Life-Giving Spring"]] (Gr. Ζωοδοτος πιγις) since an ancient well had been found on this site also. On [[January 30]], the excavations were continued and, as locals from the village of Phalatas where leveling the church. He took foundation a few metres from the chalicewell, various altar utensils and also their shovel struck the icon which was covered in gold and precious stones much like it is today. By noon They uncovered the half of the icon with the next day, he was caught trying Archangel Gabriel holding out a lily to escape to Androsthe Mother of God. They later discovered the matching half of the Virgin kneeling accepting her role in the Incarnation. These two pieces have since been joined together.

===Description of the Icons findingPanagia Evangelistria Church===According to the traditionThis is a large church paved with lovely pebble and marble mosaic courtyard, the Mother of God appeared to Sister Pelagia, a local nun sourced from the [[Monastery islands of Kechrovouniou (Tinosand also from Paros, Greece)|Monastery of Kechrovouniou]] requesting her to unearth a wonderincluding green-working icon buriedveined Tiniot stone. The sister ignored this vision on many occassions considering that it was merely her imaginationIt is surrounded by offices, howeverchapels, a First Aid health station and seven museums. A broad flight of marble stairs leads to the Virgin Mary appeared to her one final time main church and rebuked it also has an architecturally distinctive bell tower built in 1824. The main patronal [[feast day]] is for the Dormition of the nun for her disbelief Mother of God, and warned her that she would fall ill if she continuted to resistit celebrates the three feasts surrounding the Panagia of Tinos icon.

The tradition continues that upper church is decorated, on the sister visited the Bishop for his thoughts on her visionsinside, with gifts of gold, silver and precious jewel [[votives]]. A few years earlier, another local had visited Some of the Bishop for more well known gifts include the same request golden orange tree, donated by the Mother a blind man who regained his sight miraculously. There are also votives of God. The Bishopcars, therefore, believed that these visions were authentichouses, cribs and he rang many ships some of the church bells to gather the entire town more smaller items include metalic hands or foot ornaments and inform them lots of the requestjewellery.

Excavations commenced in September of 1822. While searching for The lower church, called the ''Evresis'', contains the [[crypt]] used when the icon, ruins of was found. This crypt is surrounded by small chapels including a small old Byzantine chapel were found baptismal [[font]] filled with silver and this gold votives. This crypt is often crowded with pilgrims dressed in turn covered white seeking to be symbolically 'baptised' by the foundations of a 4th[[Holy water|holy-century edifice that had been dedicated to water]] from the Virgin Mary and St. [[John the Baptistfont]]. In Another chapel, to the vision left of the font, is dedicated to Pelagia, an attack made on the Greek ship 'Helle' on the day of the Dormition in 1940. The Tinoites believe that through the assistance of the Virgin Mary had told her that this church had been burnt down in of Tinos, the Greek army was able to overpower the attack of the 10th-century by Arab piratesItalians.

The cornerstone for Within the walls of the church was laid on January 1, 1823 are various museums and the chapel was named [[Panagia of the Life-Giving Spring|"Zoodogos Pigis"]] in honour of the "Life-Giving Spring" since an ancient well had been found on this site alsogalleries. On January 30, To the excavations were continued and as locals from the village of Phalatas where leveling the foundation left is a few metres from the wellgallery for 19th-century religious art, there shovel struck the iconis also a gallery housing Byzantine icons and also various offices. They uncovered the half of Another gallery is the icon with sculpture museum which is up the Archangel Gabriel holding out a lily to the Mother flight of Godstairs. They later discovered the matching half of the Virgin kneeling accepting her role in There is also a small Archaeological museum just below the Incarnation. These two pieces have since been joined togethercathedral.

===The Evangelistria Church=Recent History==This large church is made Numerous reports of marble, sourced from miracles have increased the islands fame of Tinos and also from Paros, with traces this Church to the point that this is the most venerated icon in all of green-venied Tiniot stone. Outside, it has an architecturally distinctive bell tower which was built in 1824Greece. The courtyard of the church is paved with pebble

====Museum====Within In 1842, a Greek criminal named Christodoulos Dimitriadis hid in one of the walls overhanging balconies of the church are various museums and galleries. To He took the left is a gallery for 19th-century religious art[[chalice]], there is also a gallery housing Byzantine icons various [[altar]] utensils and also various offices. Another gallery is the sculpture museum icon which was covered in gold and precious stones much like it is up the flight of stairstoday. There is also a small Archaeological museum just below By noon the cathedralnext day, he was caught trying to escape to Andros.

===Miracles===*A Greek-American regained his site sight and offered to the church the famous silver miniature Orange Tree that is meticulously crafted with small replicas of the fruit and miniature candles [[candle]]s on the uppermost branches. It is on the right of the church as you enter through the doors.

*Healing of a Cripples Crippled Child. ==How to get there==To get to the island, also known as the "Island of the Winds", one must take a state ferry from Athens. The voyage will take approximately three hours. Disembarking at the port, a few 100 metres to the left, a [[pilgrim]] is confronted by the second largest street known as the ''Leoforos Megalochares'' (the Street of Great Joy) which leads up to the neo-classical church at the top of the steep slope. This street is heavily lined with merchants, on either side, selling ecclesiastical bits and pieces such as oil lamps, replica icons, postcards etc. It is traditional for many pilgrims to crawl the entire length of this street on their hands and knees, crossing themselves first, as a physical ascetical offering in preparation of meeting the icon of Tinos. This offering should be done in supplication, or thanksgiving for prayers answered or in repentance.