Miraculous Icon of the Theotokos: the "Megalochari" of Tinos
"The miracle-working of the Holy Icon of the Annunciation of the Island
of Tinos has been known since long age all over the world and thousands
of Christians souls in every part of our planet feel its graceful
influence in the difficult moments of their lives. The Sacred Church of
the Megalochari [meaning “Great Grace”, referring to the greeting of the
Archangel Gabriel to the Theotokos “Hail of Full of Grace, the Lord is
with you!”] of Tinos has since long been internationally recognized as a
place of pilgrimage and as a philanthropic organization.
The sacred emotion and the mystical atmosphere present among the mass of
believers at the Great Feasts of the Church, shake even those who know
but few things about the Holy Icon.
No foreigner among those who visit the island remains unmoved in front
of the Church of the Holy Virgin, which like a divine crown adorns,
covers and guards the town of Tinos and most of the days of his stay
there his interests is attracted by the Church.
The present edition is addressed to all our foreign fellow-men, who,
irrespective of their language, nationality or religion, would like to
get to know the Holy Foundation of the Annunciation of Tinos. It will
try to present as shortly as possible a vivid picture about the Sacred
Church, the history of the miracle-working Icon, the philanthropic,
social and national activity of the Foundation. It will also deal with
the narration of certain miracles of the innumerable ones which
continuously happen, by which the Divine Grace sanctifies and saves the
believers.
CHAPTER I - HISTORY
HOW THE WONDER-WORKING ICON OF OUR LADY WAS FOUND
The
present site of the Marble Palace of the Virgin, with the numerous
chapels, cell and the offices, has been since ancient times a place of
religious gatherings and manifestations.
Excavations have proved that in pre-Christian times existed a temple of
Dionysos of panhellenic projection. Next to the temple, on the Western
side, there was an ancient theatre, where musical, gymnastic and
dramatic games were held.
When the religion of the Nazarene established itself on the Cyclades,
this ancient temple was transformed into a Christian church dedicated to
the Holy Mother of Christ and to St. John the Forerunner. In this the
wonder-working Icon of the Megalochari was kept and venerated.
This Sacred Church was destroyed in the middle of the 10th century
during a great historic invasion of the Saracene pirates, who burned
down and dug up this ancient building.
Since then the Holy Icon lay buried in the earth, until in the year 1823
the spade of a pious worker brought it to the surface and it became
since then an invaluable relic and holy treasure of Christendom.
For the finding of worker-working Holy Icon many miraculous happenings
occurred, which started from the Monastery of Kechrovounion lying on the
slope of a mountain of the same name, 20 minutes by car from town. The
Monastery was built about the 10th century and has always been example
of the virtue and piety.
St. Pelagia the Righteous of Tinos, holding the Miraculous Icon which Panagia revealed to her
THE VISION OF THE NUNIn this monastery during the year
1822, a pious nun named Pelagia saw repeatedly in her visions the Holy
Virgin, who ordered her to go to the town and to inform the elders to
start the excavations in order to find Her Icon, buried since many years
ago in the uncultivated field, which the Holy Virgin described exactly,
and to built Her Church on that place.
At first the nun hesitated, but soon she came to understand that the
Divine Grace has chosen her to bring to the inhabitants of Tinos the
happy announcement. She thus went to town and told the Bishop of the
island about her Divine Visions. The Bishop, a wise prudent and pious
man, knew about the virtue and holiness of Pelagia; after having
listened attentively the believed in the words of the nun. He also
brought to his mind the narrations of an old man of his town, who just a
few years ago saw in his vision the Virgin Mary, Who expressed also to
him Her desire that Her Holy Icon be bound. And he thought that the
Christian history, which is full of miracles, teaches that many times
God has revealed his Divine Will by visions.
Deeply moved, the Bishop gave his blessing to the pious nun and rallied
the same day by ringing the church bells the people of Tinos, to whom he
spoke with words full of faith about the vision of Pelagia and
explained to them the desire of Our Lady. The people of Tinos, well
known for their faith and adherence to the Christian principles,
believed in the vision of the nun and the words of the Bishop and full
of enthusiasm and sacred emotion started immediately in September 1822
the excavations.
THE FIRST FINDINGS
The first excavations brought to light the ruins of the foundations of
the Church already mentioned, a deep but dry well, marble plates with
various inscriptions, articles of religious worship and other things.
However, the Holy Icon, about which the vision of Pelagia spoke, could
not be found. Several days of fruitless searches passed. Little by
little the enthusiasm started to diminish - an example of human
weakness- and finally the excavations stopped.
Simultaneously, however, with the discontinuation of the excavations, a
formidable illness made its appearance on the island with continuously
increasing fatal outcomes.
Full of scare, the people of Tinos asked for the protection of the
Virgin Mary, repenting for the disobedience they have shown to her
Divine Orders.
With a warm and moving proclamation, the Bishop invited all the
inhabitants to resume the excavations, which then started with greater
zeal and enthusiasm.
This time the excavations were made in a systematic way. A special
commission of inspection was formed. The inhabitants of the villages
took also turns in the work in order to hasten up the searches.
After about one month's work it was decided to start, parallel to the
searches of the Holy Icon, the building of the Sacred Church. Thus, on
January 1st 1823 the corner stone of the Church of the ''Zoodohos
Pighi'' (Life-giving Well) or of the ''Evresis'' (Finding), as it has
been called after the finding of the Icon, was laid. This church is
situated exactly below the brilliant Church of the Annunciation.
THE FINDING OF THE HOLY ICON
It was January 30th 1823. In spite of the great feast of the Three
Hierarchs, the work was continued by the inhabitants of the village
Phalatas, whose turn it was to work on that day.
They restricted the work mainly to the excavation of the floor of the
Church under construction, the leveling and transportation of the earth.
By 2 p.m. one of the workers engaged in the transfer of earth, felt at a
distance of about 2 metres from the well that his hatchet struck some
wood. Frantic with joy and emotion, he saw that it was a part of the
icon showing the angel holding the lily. Immediately he called al his
colleagues and together they soon found the remaining part of the Icon
showing the Virgin Mary, kneeling and accepting the Divine Message of
the Incarnation of the Savior.
After cleaning in haste the Holy Icon, they joined two, parts and kissed it with religious fear.
The news of the finding of the Holy Icon spread with a lighting speed to
the town of Tinos and the near-by villages. Masses of people with tears
of emotion in their eyes started to assemble from all directions in
order to adore they Holy Icon. Among the first ones to arrive was the
Bishop with the clergy and the notables. Piously and full of emotion,
they adored the Holy Icon and placed it on an old double legged stand
outside the Church under construction, leaving it there for the people
to adore it.
The Icon of the Theotokos the "Megalochari" above the Image of the Church of the Panagia "Evangelistria" of Tinos
THE HOLY ICON
The Holy Icon of the Annunciation of Tinos, the
Megalokhari, as it is called by the people, existed on the poor island
of Tinos since the first Byzantine years and decorated the ancient
Church of St. John the Forerunner, which was built after the destruction
of the idols and the death of worship of the Olympian gods on the ruins
of the pagan temple of Dionysos.
When this Holy Church was destroyed and burned down by the Saracenes in
the 10th century A.D., the Icon was buried among the debris of the
Church and was thus saved from that terrible catastrophe, which is
mentioned by history with special emphasis.
Thus the Icon remained hidden in the ground till its discovery by the
pious worker from Phalatas at noon January 30th 1823, after about 850
years. The fact that it remained in the humidity and the earth for so
many years without practically any damage, can only be attributed to the
wonder-working power and presence of the Holy Virgin.
It portrays the Megalokhari in a room, kneeling with Her head bent in
prayer, in front of a small low stand, wearing a golden-yellow-green
dress. On the stand is an open book, on which are written the words
pronounced by the Virgin herself after the Annunciation by the Angel.
In the background of the small room and on both upper sides one can
distinguish the separations of inner windows, while in the centre of the
upper part of the Icon, we see the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove
descending from heaven.
Above Her and to the right we see a rod protruding from the wall, on
which is hung a light-colored curtain. The fine and impervious material
of the curtain is folded at the lower part towards the wall.
Opposite to the Virgin and turned towards Her stands the illuminated
figure of the Archangel Gabriel, also wearing a golden-yellow-green robe
and holding in his left hand the symbolical lily of purity.
On the back the Icon bears traces of the fire, which as it seems
finished up the catastrophic work of the pirates during their terrible
attack, from which the Icon was miraculously saved.
The art of the Holy Icon does not belong to the Byzantine age, but is
much older, belonging to the early Christian age. Those who studied the
origin of the Icon come to the unanimous conclusion that the Megalokhari
of Tinos is the work of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke. They even
consider it to be one of the first three Icons painted by St. Luke
during the life-time of the Holy Virgin of Nazareth. It is also asserted
threat the Icon has received its wonder-working power from the Holy
Virgin herself, Who being satisfied by the true presentation of the
Divine Moment of the Annunciation by St. Luke, blessed the Icon with the
following words: ''THE GRACE OF HIM WHO WAS BORNE BY ME BE THROUGH ME
WITH IT''. This is the reasonable explanation given by the weak human
mind to the infinite greatness of the finding of the Holy Icon by the
divine order and indication of the Holy Virgin, as well as to Its
wonder-working power, which is an inexhaustible source of consolidation,
healing, salvation, peace and love for the Christians.
Like most of the relics of Christendom of the Holy Icon of the
Megalokhari of Tinos is covered with plenty of gold and precious stones,
which the devoted Christians deposit with piety in front of the Throne
of Her Grace, wishing to express in this way their faith and
gratefulness to the Mother of the whole world, offering Her the most
precious articles that they have acquired by hard work and privation.
When looking at the Icon the pilgrim is filled unwillingly with emotion
and awe. He kneels instinctively and prays and asks the Virgin to
mediate so that Her Son Christ would give him from heaven strength and
consolidation.
By observing closely the Icon one can see the face of the Virgin painted
in the right direction and the face of the Archangel Gabriel in the
left direction. The sides and the back of the Icon are in a golden
frame, while the front surface is covered by the relief gold plate to
which are attached jewels, rings, medallions, brooches, ear-rings,
precious stones, diamonds, rubles emeralds and real pearls of great
value.
A copy of the Icon can be seen in the Vestry next to the Church which we are going to describe below.
The Miraculous Icon of the "Megalochari" as it
appears today, covered with the gold and jewels given in thanksgiving
for miracles of the Theotokos
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION (EVANGELISTRIA)
Immediately
after the finding of the Holy Icon, it was decided to build a big
Church above the chapel of the Life-giving Well (Zoodochos Pighi). For
this purpose the Lower Church was extended to the right and to the left
by proper porticos in order to enlarge it and above it was started the
construction of the brilliant Church which we see to-day, after the
plans of Eustratios Kallonaris, an architect and artist from Smyrna.
The
whole work of construction, the iconography and the finishing of the
Church, with the surrounding grounds and extensions was terminated by
1830, i.e. within eight years.
The work that was accomplished by our renowned forefathers within a
relevantly short period of time is really surprising. Moreover, if we
take into consideration the bad conditions prevailing at that time, the
construction of this wonderful marble complex, which is preserved nearly
unchanged up to-day, must cannot be attributed to nothing else but a
miracle.
Only two years before the Holy Icon was found, the great and nation-saving Greek War of Liberation (1821) broke out.
The whole Greek Nation was fighting for its
national liberation in and uneven inexorable fight against the Ottoman
Empire. Destruction, blood and fire were commonplace.
The small, barren and poor island of Tinos,
which also constituted a port of the fighting Country, answered the
national call and its brave people found themselves together with all
the other Greeks from the very first days in the first line of the fight
Besides, thousands of refugees from Chios and
other islands that had received the wrath and the revenge of the Turks,
had flooded the islands in a search of protection and salvation from the
sword of the conqueror.
The poor island tried
desperately to feed a multiple number of inhabitants. And in spite of
that the Church of Megalokhari rose quickly to become a brilliant throne
of the glory of the Mother of the Most Gracious King Christ.
The best technicians worked to produce the most
brilliant marbles. The best known artists produced the wonderful inner
ornamentation. The most famous artisans of that time built the marble
palace of the Virgin. Tens of workers and unskilled technicians helped
by carrying the raw materials and by executing the orders of the
artisans.
Nobody tried to take advantage of or to receive high pay for his skills.
Everybody worked for the sake of the Virgin, without receiving his
normal wage.
Marbles and columns from the ancient temples of
Delos and Poseidon at ''Kionia'', Tinos, were used for the construction
of the Church, as well as marble from the quarries of Panormos, Tinos.
Every vessel that passed by the island loaded with lime, timber or
another building material, being informed about the needs of the Church,
donated part of its cargo for its construction.
When at a certain moment the funds of the Church were nearly exhausted,
the Virgin, by one of the innumerable miracles that happen in her Holy
Church, replenished the treasury again with money and the work continued
without the slightest interruption.
The Church and the holy complex were thus built,
and it has been preserved up to-day with only slight changes or
renovations, which however have not changed at all its initial form.
Anybody entering the Church is filled with religious awe and sacred
emotion.
The gold and silver, lavishly offered to Her
Grace by pious Christians from all over the world, give it a specific
appearance. The enormous chandeliers and the hundreds of icon-lamps
hanging in unending rows, offer to the Megalokhari the humble light of
the sanctified oil and to the pilgrim and visitor a spectacle of
surrounded by a mystic atmosphere.
Below each icon-lamp hangs an offering - a
vessel, a silver child, a golden woman, an instrument, an animal, a
house, a heart and many, many other things.
Each one of them is a living story of a cause of
the offering, as well as of the divine intervention, to the desperate
captain, whose vessel and crew were saved by the Megalokhari, to the
sick child that was healed with the help of Her Grace, to the orphan and
to the weak woman, who with the help of the Great Mother of the World
found the courage and the strength to face the difficulties of life, to
the poor bread-earner whose faith in the Virgin and the Protectress of
the persecuted lead him to progress and promotion, to the unprotected
girl, who with the help of the Virgin got what she desired in life- a
house and a household.
To the left, at the
marble praying desk, the Holy Icon brilliant framed with golden
offerings and flowers, sheds its sweet light. At any time of the year or
of the day, the visitor of the Church will see somebody in front of Her
Gase who invokes the help and succour of the Virgin.
In the background, the icons of the bauster, also clad in gold and
silver, compose and underline together with all the vestry the
sacredness of the place and the greatness of the Church.
Good-voiced chanters and revered priests in golden dresses chant
continuously thanksgiving hymns to the Lady of the Angels and pray for
the salvation of the world.
By a tradition taken over from the seat of the Patriarchat at
Constantinople, the Divine Liturgy and vespers are held every day of the
year, from the inauguration of the Church and up to day.
Church of Panaga "Evangelstria" (of the Annunciation) - Tinos
THE MIRACLES OF THE MEGALOKHARI OF TINOS
The whole history of the Holy Church of the Megalokhari of Tinos, from
the first vision of the nun Pelagia and up to day, is full of
unquestionable miraculous events, which prove the divine presence and
the divine action, there were it is impossible for the normal flow of
things to act and to give an explanation.
Even the most rationally minded researcher, however indifferent and
abstemious he might try to be when examining the reality about the
Megalokhari, he will not be able to avoid the feeling of the presence of
the Virgin in every step of his and in the end he will whisper full of
piety: ''Great art Thou, o Lord, and wonderful art Thy works''.
Besides, the innumerable offerings are the biggest proof of the
miracles, because all of them are an expression of faith, gratefulness
and thankfulness on the part of the saved towards the Virgin.
For the sake of the reader, we will mention several of the remarkable
and characteristic miracles of the Megalokhari, out of the numerous
miracles happening daily, most of which are confirmed by the official
written history of the Church.
The ornate interior of the Church of Panagia
"Evangelistria" of Tinos. Many of the vigil lamps and decoratons were
given out of thanks for miracles of the Theotokos.
HOW TINOS WAS SAVED FROM THE EPIDEMY [Epidemic?]
As the first miracle of the Holy Icon after its finding one should
mention the salvation of the island from a terrific epidemy, which
carried daily to death hundreds of the island's inhabitants. As
witnessed by the historians o that time, as soon as the joyful
announcement o the finding of the Holy Icon reverberated in the frozen
atmosphere, the epidemy stopped and from that moment on no more cases of
the disease were reported. Even those who were attacked by the disease
got well again.
THE WELL OF SANCTIFICATION [Agiasma, Holy Water]
As told above, the mouth of a well was found during the excavations made
in search of the Holy Icon. The well was completely dry and could not
be used for anything.
As there did not exist any well near to the building site, on the day of
the laying of the corner-stone of the Holy Church, the Bishop sent a
small boy to bring some water from the town for the celebration of the
hallowing of the waters.
Shortly afterwards the child was back and told the Bishop that the well
next to the foundations was full of water. Having heard this the Bishop,
accompanied by the notables went to the spot and all of them saw with
great surprise that the dry well was now filled up to the brink with
water.
They all made the sign of the cross for this miracle and after that took
from the well the water necessary for the celebration of the hallowing.
From that time, the water of the well has been used by the pious
pilgrims as a sacred water and everybody takes it along with him in
special vials and keeps it at home as a talisman.
THE SAVING OF THE ENGLISH FRIGATE.
During one of the first years of the construction of the Church and n a
period of great financial difficulties for treasury of the Church, which
would have lead to the suspension of the construction works, a big
English frigate was anchorched at the beach of the town, which at that
time did not have a harbour. On board of the frigate was the English
vice-concul H. Flick, a Catholic by confession.
Suddenly, as it often happen in the Aegean, a storm broke out and placed
in a difficult situation the master of the frigate, which was in danger
of being crushed on the wild rocks of the coast.
The frightened vice-consul standing on the deck saw at a distance the
Church under construction and prayed spontaneously for his salvation and
promised a substantial amount of money.
It happened them, as told by an eye-witness, that while the storm
continued to rage out in the sea, around the frigate named ''As You Like
It'' the waters were absolutely calm, as if a divine hand had removed
from there the wild waves.
The vessel was saved and the vice-consul, faithful to his promise, went
to the Church, adored the Icon and deposited at the treasury 100 Spanish
dollars, which permitted the continuation of the construction works.
This miracle is representative of a great number of others, by which the
Virgin helped for the works of the construction of the Church never to
stop.
THE PRESENT OF THE MOSLEM OFFICIAL.
It is not only among the Orthodox that the Divine Grace acts by the Holy
Icon of the Annunciation. It also acts among people of other
confessions and nationalities.
As an example is mentioned the case of a Turkish colonel, a Moslem by
confession, who was suffering from an incurable disease and visited the
Church of the Megalokhari to ask for Her Help. The Virgin granted his
prayers and healed him.
Full of gratefulness, the Turk undertook the expenses for the
construction of a wonderful marble fountain next to the marble staircase
of the upper Church, here the hallowing of the waters is celebrated on
Epiphany every year.
THE VESSEL WITH THE FISH.
Around the middle of last century a vessel sailing in the Mediterranean
met with an anti-cyclone. The ship fought hard, but the wild waves
opened a breach in the ship's hold and it started to sink. The
frightened crew, while doing everything in their power to stop the
water, sent their warm prayers to the Lady for help. After tremendous
efforts and hardships they succeeded to bring the vessel to safety into a
leeward harbour.
Their first thing to do was to repair the damages caused by the storm.
It was then that they found out to their surprise that a big fish was
caught in the breach of the vessel, as a result of which the influx of
water stopped.
They considered this as a sign of the divine intervention of the
Megalokhari and in their faith and emotion they hurried to send Her the
''tama'' (offering).
Thus a model of that vessel, with the fish in the breach, made of gold
and silver, can be seen hanging on one of the big icon-lamps of the
Church of the Annunciation of Tinos.
THE SILVER ORANGE TREE.
A Greek, who lived for many years in America got blind after a heavy
sickness. He heard about the miracles of the Megalokhari of Tinos and
asked the Lady with help to give him back his health. He promised that
he would offer to Her Grace anything that he will see first.
The divine Grace acted through the Mother of God on the sick Christian , who after many years found again his sight.
Faithful to his promise and full of gratefulness he sent to the Church
of our Lady of Tinos his offering, which presents a wonderful orange
tree with ripe fruits, bearing on the ends of the top branches fine
supports for small lamps, all made of pure silver, because the first
thing that he saw after the miracle was an orange tree.
This wonderful offering can be seen on the right side of the entrance.
THE HEALING OF THE DYING KING
In 1915 the King of the Hellenes Constantine was down with a heavy
illness. His health deteriorated quickly and his physicians were anxious
about the state of his health. A deep sorrow spread among the Greek
people, who adored the Warrior-King and followed with agony the
development of the illness, praying at the same time for his salvation.
In the general atmosphere of anxiety and pain, the Megalokhari of Tinos
appeared as a ray of live-giving light and the hopes of everybody were
turned to her.
The Holy Icon was transferred with great honours to Athens and thousands
of people accompanied Her to the Palace. It was for the first time that
the Icon left Her House.
The King, embraced by the nightmare of the long fever, became aware of
the presence of the Megalokhari and with trembling lips asked to kiss
Her Icon.
From that moment on the illness started to recede and within a few days the King was healthy again.
The King thanked the Virgin and out of gratefulness dedicated to Her a
golden plate on which he is presented riding on his horse.
The offering is attached to the old wood carved praying desk. During the
stay of the Holy Icon in Athens, tens of sick people were healed, as is
witnessed by many official documents and confirmed by various
offerings.
It is a fact that our Kings, continuers of the great Byzantine tradition
and faithful Christians, have always expressed their reverence and
adoration to the Megalokhari and Protectress of the Nation and many and
precious offerings are royal presents.
Lately, the late King Paul asked on his death - bed strength and
consolidation from the Holy Icon of the Megalokhari of Tinos, which the
then Heir and now King Constantine placed at his pillow during his last
moments.
Ocean of Ink would not suffice for the narration of the miracles of the
Megalokhari. Innumerable cases are mentioned in his official documents
of the Foundation and thousands of pious Christians witness with their
letters and offerings the acts of Divine Grace.
As already mentioned, every molecule of the building of the Holy Church
and of the Foundation of the Annunciation of Tinos is a living proof of
the miracle.
THE NATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE OF THE FINDING OF THE HOLY ICON OF THE MEGALOKHARI.
The finding of the Icon took place when Greece was in a dramatic situation.
Only two years ago (1821) the whole Greek Nation had revolted against
the tyranny of the Turks and had declared before God and men its
political existence and independence, based on its indestructible moral
forces and the help of the God.
All Greeks believed in the sacredness of their fight, since they fought
for the basic ideals which compose the human entity, i.e. the liberty
and the national dignity. This belief became for the fighting men a deep
set conviction and the leaders of the war of independence used to say
that God had signed the liberation of Greece.
Thus, when the news spread that on the small island of Tinos the Icon of
the Virgin was found under miraculous circumstances and the first
miracles became known, all Greek should felt a great joy and came to
believe that its finding was a divine sign, which meant an approval of
the fight and a confirmation of the liberation.
Great soldiers and leaders of the fighting Nation among them Kanaris,
Miaoulis and Kolokotronis, visited the Megalokhari of Tinos and lit
before the Holy Icon the candle of gratefulness and reverence.
Thus the history of the Holy Icon is closely bound to the History of
modern Greece and the feasts of the Church have always a national
religious character, where the Government is officially represented in
the presence of high military, administrative and judicial authorities.
THE FEASTS OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF TINOS
The Church of the Annunciation is for Tinos the centre of all religious
and national manifestations of its inhabitants. All services and
doxologies for great historic events are held there.
The most important holidays of Christianity, like Christmas, Easter, the
services of the Akathist and of the Passions of Our Lord, are
celebrated there in an atmosphere of contrition and surprising
greatness, similar only to that of the period of the height of the
Byzantine age.
Many foreigners spend their holidays during these feasts on the island of Tinos.
But the feast of the Holy Church of the Megalokhari are mainly the following:
January 30th - Anniversary of the Finding of the Holy Icon.
On this day the religious feelings of the believers find strongest
expression. The whole population of the island and many visitors, who
disregard the winder storms of the Aegean offer their thanks to the
Great Mother and Proctress of the Christians, Who deigned to reveal Her
Holy Icon for the salvation of all those who really believe.
In the afternoon on the eve the Holy Icon is transferred with great
honours to the Lower Church and its placed near the point where is lay
buried for centuries. This is followed by a special service dedicated to
the finding of the Icon.
The next day, an official episcopical [presided over by Bishops] [Divine
Liturgy] is celebrated and by 2 p.m. unde the continuous ringing of the
bells of all churches, the Holy Icon is carried through the decorated
streets of the town in its gold and silver canopy supported by the
church wardens, the local authorities and the representatives of the
population. After a short prayer at the quai the Holy Icon is returned
to Her marble palace, where a prayer is said in memorial of the builders
of the Church, whose tombs are situated at the East side of the Church,
and of all those who have sacrificed their fortunes and themselves for
the construction of the Church.
After vespers the President of the Church Committee pronounces the
panegyric of the day, which refers mainly to the activity of the Holy
Foundation during the past year and the planned activity of the new
year.
In the evening the school-children lead by the orchestra of the Church
march through the streets holding lighted multi-colour lamps and singing
various hymns referring to the finding of the Holy Icon.
Icon of the Holy Annunciaton of the Theotokos
March 25th, The Annunciation of Our Lady.This day has
double meaning for the Greeks, because they celebrate at the same time
the Annunciation of Our Lady by the Archangel Gabriel and the
anniversary of the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire, which
brought the liberation of our nation.
In the Church of the Megalokhari the celebration has a national
religious character, which is attended by members of the Government, who
arrive on the eve aboard a special Navy vessel. Very often the
celebration is attended by the Royal family, who have have a special
respect for the Megalokhari.
Up to the year 1920 great masses of Christians, mainly from the Asia
Minor regions flooded the island in order to participate in the
celebrations. However, after the exchange of the populations with Turkey
and the uprooting of the Greek element from the shores of Asia Minor,
the flow of pilgrims from these stopped. Today, inspite of the heavy
climate conditions of that time of the year, the attendance amounts to
several thousand people.
On the eve a service is held with the participation of navy bishops,
after which the Church remains open, permitting the pilgrims to pass the
night inside the Church and to offer continuous prayers to the Virgin.
Many miracles happen every year these all night long prayers.
On the day of the feast an episcopal mass is celebrated after which the
Holy Icon is carried in a procession up to the quai of the town.
July 23rd, Anniversary of the Vision of St. Pelagia.This
day the people of Tinos consecrates to memory of that pious nun
Pelaghia, who had the great privilege to be visited on that day in her
poor cell by Our Lady and to the first person to annunciate the finding
of the Holy Icon.
Early in the morning of that day, accompanied by the nuns of the
Monastery and a crowd of believers, is transferred to the Monastery
where St. Pelaghia lived. A festive mass is celebrated there and in the
afternoon a requiem s held in the cell of St. Pelaghia, where the
visitor can still see her humble belongings, her ascetic bed and may
adore her holy head.
Later in the afternoon, the Holy Icon is returned to Her Church surrounded by the clergy and thousands of people.
August 15th, The Assumption of the Holy Virgin.This day is
concentrated to Megalokhari. Thousands of pilgrims from all parts of
Greece and from abroad, surpassing 30.000 people every year, come to the
Megalokhari full of faith and threats, warm, implores of Her Grace.
Among them are many distressed human beings, physical and mental
invalids, persecuted and suffering people.
The representatives of the Government, other official, as well as the
military guard of honour arrive on the eve, while masses of people are
crowded in front of the Church, trying to adore the Megalokhari and if
possible to secure a place inside the Church.
While the adoration continues throughout the night, those who remain
nude the Church offer continuous prayers and ask Our Lad to give them
health and peace to the whole world.
Many of them carried away by the mystical and inspiring atmosphere which
is created inside the Church and flooded by the lights of faith, come
to see the optasy of the Virgin n the trembling light of the lamps and
the smoke of incense. Then the shouts, the outbursts of the sacred
emotion, ascend to the heavens and electrify the crowds, who in an
unworldly uproar sing hymns of thanks, expectation and faith. These are
the moments when the Divine Grace chooses to act and to perform
miracles.
Mutes find suddenly their voice and mad with joy run to kneel in front
of the Icon. Paralytic children, blind girls find again their precious
health and in a confusion of shouts and emotions express their gratitude
to the Megalokhari.
On the day of the feast, the noise and the traffic on Tinos resemble
that of a Megalopolis. Its population of 3000 is increased ten times
overnight. Its houses and streets are full with people. In its small
harbour a forest of masts is rolling rhythmically and the flags greet
the light of the brilliant day of the feast of our Lady, which is also a
feast of every Christian soul. On the quai the agitated crowds are
moving towards the Church.
In endless queues, which are formed in front of the Church, the pilgrims
wait for their turn under the burning August sun to adore Her Grace.
The big candles, which every one of them has vowed to light in front of
the Holy Icon, protrude from the crowd in the form of real spears and
arrows of a strange army fighting for the salvation of its soul.
Black-dressed mothers with children loaded on their backs, persecuted
orphans and black-dressed youths, who have lost their health, ascend the
wide avenue on their knees. Sweat running down their faces like drops
of blood waters the hole earth, their faces changing from the
superstension, while continue their hard course, because they have vowed
to walk in this way the distance between the quay and the Throne of Her
Grace, because they believe that the love and protection of the Great
Protectress will be much sweeter, after they have felt the agony and
hardships, and have gave through the martyrdom of Jesus Her Son in the
ascend to Golgotha for the explanation and the salvation of the world
At 10 a.m. an official processation of the Holy Icon takes place, after
which the clergy and the officials go aboard a special vessel to the
point exactly where on August 15th 1940 the destroyer ''ELLI'', one of
the best Greek navy vessels at that time, was treacherously and cowardly
sunk by an Italian submarine. There a requiem is held and a laurel
crown is thrown on the wet tomb of the glorious ship and of the innocent
victims of its crew.
At noon starts the departure of the believers by the big passenger liners, which on that day make special passages to Tinos
All leave the island re-baptized [not referring to a second Sacrament of
Baptism] in the eternal source of the Grace of the Megalokhari."
Icon of the Theotokos "Megalochari" of Tinos
Troparion of the Mother of God Tone 1
O
people of Tinos and all faithful, come and acclaim with hymns our
Protectress; the all-venerable icon of the pure Mother of God/ is found
to be a source of healing for us. Let us cry to her: Rejoice, O our
glory and boast. Rejoice, thou who hast delivered mankind from the
ancient curse.
Most-Holy Theotokos, save us! Amen!
