PANAGHIA CHURCH

The most beautiful and imposing church of Folegandros is dedicated to the Virgin. It overlooks Chora and the Aegean Sea from a hill. The church and its path are recognizable among a thousand and will surely remain engraved in your memories. The present church dates from the last century but was part of a larger convent of which almost nothing remains today. This one would have been built on the foundations of an ancient temple dedicated to Artemis or Poseidon, depending on the versions. Some marble elements from the first sanctuaries can still be seen today in the church, beautifully simple with its starry dome. Of particular note is the magnificent bishop's throne or cathedra in engraved marble. Stop also on the icon of the miraculous Virgin, surrounded by silver. The story goes that it was stolen by a certain Tzanoum Hodja in 1715, when this pirate plundered the island and the church before setting sail again. Some time later, the Virgin appeared to the Hodja in his sleep and asked him to bring her back to Folegandros. Disturbed by this dream, the pirate threw the icon into the sea in the port of Chios. According to the legend, the icon drifted for years and years to the sea off Ios, the neighboring island of Folegandros. There, a captain found it and recognized it: the miraculous icon was able to return to its land of origin. In 1857, it found its way back to the church. Since then, it has been the object of a real veneration by the inhabitants of the island. At Easter, it is carried in procession through all the villages.