Our Lady of Tinos

Saint Pelagia's visions of the Virgin Mary According to tradition, in 1822, a Nun named Pelagia had mystical visions of the Virgin Mary. In these visions, Mary told Pelagia to unearth the old church of St. John the Baptist under a field on the island. Excavations that took place on January 30, 1823 eventually revealed an icon of the Annunciation, which from its finding was believed to be miraculous. Pelagia died in 1834, and was canonized as an Eastern Orthodox saint in 1970. The icon was found on the very first days after the creation of the modern Greek State, and henceforth Our Lady of Tinos was declared the patron saint of the Greek nation. The miraculous icon was at the time thought to be the handwork of Saint Luke, the Evangelist, and a nationwide fund collection was carried out for the building of a church to house it. The church was inaugurated in 1830. Since then it constitutes the major Christian pilgrimage in Greece, akin to Lourdes in France or Fatima in Portugal. The church receives a vast number of donations in silver and gold votives each year; these are auctioned and used for charities. == Icon ==

The icon is widely believed to be the source of numerous miracles. The icon is commonly referred to as the ("[She of] Great Grace") or simply the Chárē Tēs ("Her Grace"). By extension the church is often called the same, and is considered a protectress of seafarers and healer of the sick. == Observances ==

In 2008, it was estimated that about 1 million travelers per year visit the Church of the Virgin Mary on the island. January 30 (Finding of the Icon) January 30 is dedicated to the finding of the icon, and re-enacts its finding. The festival starts on the afternoon of January 29, when the icon is brought from the main church where it is normally housed to the chapel dedicated to the "Life-giving spring" below. There the icon is placed on the site it was found in 1822, where a church service is held. On the 30th, a liturgy is held, and the icon is carried in procession around the town all the way back to the church. Finally, a ceremony is held to celebrate the builders of the church. This follows the strong tradition of the Aegean Islands where the Dormition is grandly celebrated in mid-August as the principal summer feast. Dormition liturgical services are often annually visited by Greek leaders such as the President, Prime Minister, or National Defense Minister. == See also ==