Difference between revisions of "Panagia of Tinos"

From OrthodoxWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (More information.)
m (link.)
Line 34: Line 34:
  
 
==External Sources==
 
==External Sources==
 +
*[http://www.tinos.biz/ Vincenzo Travel Agency website on the island of Tinos] (Greek and English) Disclaimer: Good informational site though it is a Catholic Church link and not Orthodox
 
*[http://vincenzo.gr/panagia_eng.htm The Panhellenic Shrine of the Virgin Mary]
 
*[http://vincenzo.gr/panagia_eng.htm The Panhellenic Shrine of the Virgin Mary]
  

Revision as of 06:25, February 22, 2008

Panagia of Tinos [also known as the Megalochari of Tinos or Evangelistria (Our Lady of Good Tidings) of Tinos] is declared the national patron saint of the Greek Nation since its discovery coincided with the very first days of the creation of the modern Greek State. It has since become the most venerated religious icons in all of Greece. The major shrine is located on the tiny island of Tinos, of the Cyclades of Greece.

Thee major festival of the church is August 15 to celebrate the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. There are three other festivals associated with this icon, January 30, the anniversary of finding the icon; March 25, the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary; July 23, the anniversary of the vision of the St. Pelagia.

How to get there

To get to the island, know also 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.

History

The icon is a beautiful portrayal of the Virgin Mary kneeling with her head bent in prayer. It is regarded as being older than the Byzantine period. Many scholars regard this icon to even be the work of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke. It is assumed that this icon was so highly esteemed in the Byzantine era it was either hidden or lost around the time of the Moslem invasions. The icon was rediscovered miraculously and the construction of a church was begun and completed by 1830. Even before this church was finished, pilgrims started visiting the island of Tinos from all of Greece. Numerous reports of miracles have increased the fame of this Church to the point that this is the most venerated icon in all of Greece.

In 1842, a Greek criminal named Christodoulos Dimitriadis hid in one of the overhanging balconies of the church. He took the chalice, various altar utensils and also the icon which was covered in gold and precious stones much like it is today. By noon the next day, he was caught trying to escape to Andros.

the Icons finding

According to the tradition, the Mother of God appeared to Sister Pelagia, a local nun from the Monastery of Kechrovouniou requesting her to unearth a wonder-working icon buried. The sister ignored this vision on many occassions considering that it was merely her imagination, however, the Virgin Mary appeared to her one final time and rebuked the nun for her disbelief and warned her that she would fall ill if she continuted to resist.

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 the same request by the Mother of God. The Bishop, therefore, believed that these visions were authentic, and he rang the church bells to gather the entire town and inform them of the request.

Excavations commenced in September of 1822. While searching for the icon, ruins of a small old Byzantine chapel were found and this in turn covered the foundations of a 4th-century edifice that had been dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist. In the vision to Pelagia, the Virgin Mary had told her that this church had been burnt down in the 10th-century by Arab pirates.

The cornerstone for the church was laid on January 1, 1823 and the chapel was named "Zoodogos Pigis" in honour of the "Life-Giving Spring" 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 foundation a few metres from the well, there shovel struck the icon. They uncovered the half of the icon with the Archangel Gabriel holding out a lily to the 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.

The Evangelistria Church

This large church is made of marble, sourced from the islands of Tinos and also from Paros, with traces of green-venied Tiniot stone. Outside, it has an architecturally distinctive bell tower which was built in 1824. The courtyard of the church is paved with pebble

Museum

Within the walls of the church are various museums and galleries. To the left is a gallery for 19th-century religious art, there is also a gallery housing Byzantine icons and also various offices. Another gallery is the sculpture museum which is up the flight of stairs. There is also a small Archaeological museum just below the cathedral.

Miracles

  • Greek-American regained his site and offered to the church the famous silver miniature Orange Tree that is meticulously crafted with small replicas of the fruit and miniature candles on the uppermost branches. It is on the right of the church as you enter through the doors.
  • 1915, King Constantine of Greece was cured from a serious life-threatening condition. He presented the church with a golden plaque depicting himself on a horse which is affixed to the wooden kneeler near the icon.
  • Healing of a Cripples Child.

External Sources