PANAGHIA EVANGELISTRIA CATHEDRAL

This cathedral is considered to be the greatest architectural work built in Greece since its independence. It is an event: every year it attracts thousands of pilgrims and in Tinos, Catholics and Orthodox worship it equally, on August 15th, but not only. According to local legend, a nun from the Kechrovouni convent named Pelagia dreamed one night in 1822 that a miraculous icon was buried here. The inhabitants start digging and discover the remains of a Byzantine church with the said icon attributed to St. Luke. The cathedral and its famous bell tower, made of marble from Tinos and Paros, is built in the place where the icon is discovered. The church and the icon are the object of a real popular veneration, close to what is known in Lourdes. Pilgrims are numerous, they make an act of penance by kneeling down to the altar and dedicate an impressive number of candles and ex-votos to the Virgin. The interior of the main cathedral is magnificent and really striking with its silver ex-votos. Don't miss to go upstairs to get a full view of the nave. Below the main cathedral, we will visit the church of Evressi (the Discovery), dedicated to Zoodochos Pighi (the Fountain of Life). Entering on the left, do not miss the remains of an early Christian church dedicated to Aghios Ioannis. Archaeological research has shown that during antiquity the site was already home to a sanctuary of Dionysus.