HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY
OF THE MIRACULOUS ICON
OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY
IN TINOS IN 1823
THE ACTIVITIES AND THE AIMS OF THE HOLY FOUNDATION
EDITION OF THE GREEK HOLY FOUNDATION OF ANNUNCIATION OF TINOS
TINOS 2009
A HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY
OF THE MIRACULOUS ICON
OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY
IN TINOS IN 1823
THE ACTIVITIES AND THE AIMS OF THE HOLY FOUNDATION
TRANSLATION: IRINA TSOTADZE - ANASTASIADI
EDITION OF THE GREEK HOLY FOUNDATION OF ANNUNCIATION OF TINOS
TINOS 2009
Prologue
From venerable Dorotheos, Bishop and the President of the Foundation Commission:
The book you are holding in your hands - it is a small trip in time. It will tell you how the Holy Icon of Annunciation was founded and explain the aims of the Holy Foundation’s Commission. It will describe examples of miraculous therapy and tell about all the celebrations of the Blessed Mother.
The Light Giver Holy Temple of the Annunciation on the Holy island of Tinos is a place of pilgrimage for all the Christians, who worship the Temple of the Blessed Mother. The Temple for them is a column of Orthodoxy and the keeper of Virgin’s soul for nearly 200 years. The dawn of January 30, 1823 predetermined this Temple’s rebuilding. From that very time, the Holy Temple became the source of Belief and Love and offers faith and all kind of help to people.
A nun named Pelagia helped to find this miraculous Icon, and for this very reason, the Church and the people honored her as a Saint.
Millions of people worship the Holy Icon, kneeling and bowing their heads in awe before it. They sincerely ask the Blessed Mother for help, believing that the Virgin will heed their pain with condolence and will take their request to the throne of our Lord.
Every pilgrim believes that the Miracle will happen. Moreover, everyone offers his present, a tama. (“Tama” comes from the ancient Greek word “Τάζω” which means: to promise. There was the religious tradition from ancient times for people to promise a gift if the wish came true. This touching tradition is kept until now). The Miracle happens every day to everyone who deeply believes. Therefore, we can see millions of gift-tama all over the Church of the Holy Virgin, proving that the miracles happened.
That is why the words “miracle” and “tama” touch the soul of each worshipper deeply. The more they believe in the miracle, the more it happens. This way our Lord keeps humans away from mistakes and sins.
The Temple of Annunciation is not only a religious institute, but also a social one. That is why the special Commission was established to help solve social matters for every poor and every ill person.
The people who serve on the Commission of the Holy Foundation of Annunciation are not priests. They manage the money, which the pilgrims have left to the Holy Church, taking care to spend it properly on the needs of people who suffer. For all the years of their existence, the duty of the Commission has been to help people in the name of the Holy Virgin, dividing assistance between the people in need, and supporting culture and art. The article N 749/76 in the laws of the Commission has turned the Holy Foundation into the many-structured Organization, differentiating it from that of other Churches. This difference gives the privilege to the Foundation to shine all over the World.
I want to thank the authors of the present book: the professor of Athens University – Dimitris Sofianos, the engineer – Georgos Bourdakos and the philologist – Georgos Amiralis. I also want to congratulate the employers of the administration of our Commission for the idea of renovating the material of the present book: Antonios Alvertis, the chief of the administration, Ioannis Polatsidis, the President’s assistant, and Evangelos Versalis, member of the administration of the Holy Foundation.
This book, I am sure, will give the reader the opportunity to reconstruct the past and to understand the activities of the Holy Foundation of the Annunciation. It will explain why the God gave Tinos the title “the Holy island” and how it became a pilgrimage place to worship the Devine Grace and to hold Her Holy Icon.
DOROTHEOS
MEGALOXARIS OF TINOS
1. HOW THE MIRACULOUS ICON OF MEGALOXARY WAS DISCOVERED
Source material from the manuscript: “History of the discovery of the Miraculous Icon of Annunciation of the Blessed Mother and building the Temple of Annunciation on the island of Tinos”, edition 1833:
“The icon was discovered, when the God of Christians decided to save the Greek nation from the yoke of Turks. From the moment the Icon was raised from the earth, the miracles began to happen to those who knelt and bowed their heads in awe before It.
On the Icon, we can see the luminous figure of Archangel Gabriel offering the Virgin Mary a lily, symbol of purity and announcing her news that the God had chosen her to become the Mother of the Messiah. This icon is called “Evangelismos”, meaning “the Announcement”. How wondrous is the human mind, weak in comparison to the Wisdom of the Lord, that it can seek to comprehend the meaning of the miracle of the Holy Icon though the Divine Wish and Grace of the Holy Virgin. Our Lord showed us humans, that the mortal Mary could give birth to the immortal being. This miracle previewed more of God’s miracles in the future.
God sent this sign to the Greeks: the Icon of the Annunciation was dug from the earth to show that God would not leave them under Turkish yoke, but would set free the Christians and save Greece as a nation.
The discovery of the Holy Icon was the first of a number of events, which showed God’s love and his thoughtfulness towards his worshipers. One of these events was the building of the Temple of Megaloxaris (Megaloxaris is one of the titles of the Blessed Mary and may be translated as – “Giving of Joy”).
The people who were in charge of finding the Holy Icon and building the Temple of Annunciation were given the title of Lord-Managers. It is they, who have written the first documents describing the finding of the Icon and the building of the Temple.
From three of these manuscripts, stored in the archives of the Holy Foundation of Annunciation, we have written this book:
1 From the manuscript of the Bishop of Tinos – Gabriel, written in difficult times, when Tinos was plague-stricken; the Bishop describes the charismatic personality of nun Pelagia, who played a central role in the discovery of the Holy Icon. He speaks about her visions and dialogs with the Blessed Mother, and shows what happened until November 25, 1822.
2. From the manuscript of Kangadis, written in 1822 and printed in 1833; The first addition is kept at the Holy Foundation of Annunciation and the Monastery of Assumption. This manuscript tells us about the miracles of Virgin’s appearances to people, and Her wish that the Icon of Annunciation be found. The manuscript also speaks of the events, which helped the Greek State emerge.
3. From the archives of the Holy Foundation of Annunciation of Tinos. The material from various archeological research projects together with letters from worshipers about the discovery of the Holy Icon.
Everything we want to tell you in this chapter happened two years before the discovery of the Holy Icon. It was in 1821 when the Holy Virgin sent Her first message to a Tinian, named Michalis Polyzonis. She explained to him that Her Icon had been buried in the ground under the first Christian Church, which had been destroyed in the middle of the 10th Century, when Saracen pirates ransacked it and burned it down. She even indicated the precise location, which happened to be on the land of Antonios Doxaras, on the hill above the present town. The Virgin wanted the Icon to be excavated and a church rebuilt above it. She then directed Polyzonis to the place and instructed him to dig.
Polyzonis convinced some friends to go with him to the land of Doxaras, and they dug and they dug, but found only an old Romaic wall. They were disappointed and gave it up. Polyzonis continued to talk about the Holy Virgin’s will, but nobody believed him.
At nearly the same time another old man, named Ioannis Guzes from Muntados village, who owned the land next to Doxaras, kept saying that this very area, named “Poles” (which means “towns”), once was a Great Venetian Principality. The old man was sure that it would be restored in the near future. “There will be thousands of people who will come to this land from all over the world”, he used to say, “and who will kneel and bow their heads in awe before it.”
Thus, it happened that two old men, Michalis Polyzonis and Ioannis Guzes prepared the ground for the miracle that was to come from the cell of the nun Pelagia of the Monastery in Kechrovunio.
THE VISIONS OF NUN PELAGIA
Everything happened by the plan that had been written by our Lord Himself. This He did to rejuvenate the belief of people and to show them the Love and Care of God. Therefore, He chose specific people to be the instrument of His Divine Will - Christian examples of modesty, asceticism and obedience.
The prime example has to be the Holy Virgin herself, who gives us the best example of purity, modesty and obedience to the Divine Will. It is because of these qualities that She was so honored by our Lord. In his manuscript Grigoris Palamas says: “God gave the Virgin so much Grace because of her fasting, praying, ascetic way of life and because of the suffering She experienced due to the martyr’s death of Her son”.
Nun Pelagia always held the Holy Virgin as example. She lived in purity and in prayer. Her real name was Pelagia Negreponti. Her father was a priest, named Nikiforos and her mother was from the family of Franguli in the village Tripotamos.
The vision of St. Pelagia
Let’s see, what the Bishop Gabriel wrote about her in his manuscript:
“Pelagia had chosen the way of serving our Lord even in her childhood. She dressed in angelic cloths, fasted strictly and prayed often”.
She lived until her 70ties, in the Monastery of Assumption of the Blessed Mother, in the place named Kexrovunio. Throughout her life she was honored by the other nuns because of her piety, purity and her capability to see Saints. Therefore, she remains in our memory forever, honored by the Church and the people as a Saint herself”.
From the manuscript of the Bishop Gabriel:
“There was a vision that came to Pelagia in July of 1822: a Woman of Power appeared to her who radiated a light which was brighter then the sun, and she spoke to the nun. She wanted Pelagia to speak to the Commissioner of the Monastery of Kechrovunio, one named Stamatelos Kangadis and to tell him that she wants him to find the site of her Temple immediately. She told her that this would be found near the town of Tinos on the land of Antonio Doxaras. The instruction was that Kangadis should search for the site and organize the reconstruction of the Temple, otherwise he would be punished. She wanted this Temple to be rebuilt magnificently.
Nevertheless, Pelagia said nothing. She was afraid that her vision was a work of a Devil. She knew of examples where the Angel of the Darkness had appeared to humans as the Angel of the Light and had leaded them into error.
The following Sunday the Woman appeared to Pelagia again. She insisted the nun inform Kangadis about her will and promised to take care of the expenses of the reconstruction.
“Why do you think that Kangadis will reconstruct your temple with such luxury?” – The nun asked.
“Because I say so!”- That was the answer, “Just do what I’ve ordered you to do and don’t search for the reason”.
That night Pelagia hesitated once again. “Who am I, to help the Lady of the Angels?” - she thought, - “Why did She choose me?”
Then came the third Sunday.
Once again the vision appeared. This time the Blessed Mother was in a great rage, saying to Pelagia that she would strike her name from the Book of Living Beings if she would not tell Kangadis about the Temple and convince him of the necessity of building this Church to honor her and to house her icon.
Then it happened. Pelagia asked the vision to name herself.
“Evangelistria, people call me. I announce benediction to the Earth” - was the answer.
Than Pelagia understood who was standing behind her. “Glory the Divine Will of our Lord!” She cried and hurried to the Mother Superior of nunnery, to tell her all about her visions.
Three times the Blessed Mother came to her: on 9 of July, on 16 July and on 23 of July 1822. She explained her hesitation to the Mother Superior with the words of holy fathers’ teaching: “Don’t believe, but don’t deny it also!” so, she explained that she waited for a sign. The words of the Holy Virgin: “I announce the benediction to the Earth” appeared to be this sacred sign. Those words made Pelagia to believe in their reality.
This is an example of how our Lord shows His Love. He does not create History like a Judge, He guides humans like a thoughtful father.
St. John writes about it: “The Wealthy God cares of everyone: sometimes He gives orders, some people He threatens, but to chosen ones He sends miracles. However, He always cares for the safety of the human soul. His actions are always full of Love and Care for humans. Even His rage serves us”.
Chrysostomos writes about it: “Our sins are so big that we simply need to fear for our actions. Otherwise, we shouldn’t do anything good at all”.
God is always the same: in his love and in his rage. Sometimes His rage is only the presage of His Grace. As St. Maxim said: “It’s the presage of the Lord’s gifts”.
It can happen that He sends misfortune for a whole nation as a means of helping them to save their souls. Of course, this is difficult for people to understand - sometimes people even deny this testing. There is confusion as to what is good, and what is bad: sometimes people take only the pleasant for the good and see the unpleasant as bad.
THE NUN ANNOUNCES HER VISION
Pelagia told about her visions to three people: Melanfia Paraskeva - the Mother Superior of the Monastery of Assumption of the Blessed Mother, Stamatelos Kangadis – the member of the Committee of the same Monastery and the Bishop Gabriel.
From the manuscript of the Bishop Gabriel:
“The Mother Superior of the monastery, being aware of Pelagia’s loyalty to the Christian ideals, immediately understood that the nun told the truth. She sent Pelagia to Kangadis. Pelagia went to the village Karia, where Stamatelo Kangadis lived, and told him the whole story. He was confused, so he sent her to the Bishop Gabriel at the cathedral church of Tinos, which during this time was in Karia. The Bishop listened to the nun carefully. He’d heard of the sacred qualities of Pelagia. He had also known from the History of Christianity that the God reveals his Divine Will through the visions to pious persons. The Bishop also remembered the story of old Polyzonis. Both of them mentioned the same place where the Holy Icon was buried in the ground.
--------------------------------------------- Gabriel. The Bishop of Tinos
The Bishop gave his blessing to the Chosen Nun and ordered an assembly all the priests, members of local authorities and the general population of Tinos. He told them about the visions of Pelagia and expressed his belief that every person will do everything to search for the Sacred Icon. One problem appeared at once: Doxaras, the owner of the land was back in Constantinople and his field was seeded for this reason the excavation was postponed until after harvest.
EXCAVATIONS, THE FIRST TRY
From the archives:
“It was September of 1822. The excavations had begun, but the ruins of the Church were not found. They decided to dig deeper. After some days the first signs of ruins began to show. A wall 16-12 m. deep and a portico 21 m. deep were revealed. In his notes, Dimitris Mavromaras affirms that there were two temples on the territory: the ancient Church of the Blessed Mother and the Church of St. John the Precursor. Both were covered with 3,5 m. of the earth.”
It was decided that these must not be destroyed. Today’s visitors to the west side of today’s Complex can see the totally restored Church of St. John the Precursor.
“The unburied walls of the ancient Churches proved Pelagia’s story about her visions. That meant that the Temple must be restored at once. But the Icon was not found and the work stopped.”
The Bishop wrote with pain: “Ignorance never brought good to people”. The people’s enthusiasm, unfortunately, diminished and the excavation stopped.
THE EPIDEMIC OF CHOLERA
With the discontinuation of excavation, a cholera epidemic struck the population and the guests of Tinos with increasing fatalities. Kangadis’ wife and her sister became ill. Fortunately, however, their disease was not cholera.
This fact made Stamatelo think about Pelagia’s words during her last vision. He went to vespers at the Monastery immediately. He realized that the Blessed Mother had commanded him to work on the reconstruction of Her Temple and he had failed to do so. Because of this his disobedience his relatives and the Tinions were struck by illness. This was the rage promised by Holy Virgin.
Usually the illness of the body and the soul appears as the result of the sin towards our Lord. Fortunately, God knows everything and previews everything. In His Love towards humans, our Lord cares for the safety of the human soul. Nevertheless, humans also need to cooperate with Him with his own actions. When our Lord offers His precious Gift, humans must stretch out their hands and accept it.
God knew that the inhabitants of the island hadn’t accomplished the Virgin’s will and were struck by cholera. He also knew that this terrible illness wasn’t a punishment, but a challenge to strengthen them in the Grace of the Blessed Mother. So he saved them from the illness, giving them an opportunity to be delivered from their sins. How this happened we’ll see afterwards, when the Icon will be found.
THE RESUMPTION OF EXCAVATIONS
Kangadis asked Bishop Gabriel to help in resumption of excavations. On November 25, 1822, the Bishop to promulgate an appeal to the Tinions:
“I kindly ask all the Christians – the inhabitants of Tinos and the guests of the island – to help reconstruct the Temple of our Lady and to make Her abode the most brilliant and beautiful”.
He also spoke about Kangadis:
“As Stamatelos Kangadis couldn’t afford the difficult work, which was given in his charge, we ask Mr.: Geogos Peridis, Antonio Kallergis and Hatzi Georgio Siotis to help Mr. Kangadis in his work”.
Therefore, it happened that four people came to work on the reconstruction of the Temple. The Bishop blessed them and resumed excavations. When a boy was sent for some water to be sprinkled by the Bishop, it was noticed with great wonder that an unearthed well suddenly appeared filled with water. With this water, the Temple was anointed. Then everybody understood that God had blessed their work.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHURCH OF THE LIFE-GIVING WELL
The construction of the Church Zoodoxos Pigi (the Life-Giving Well), according to the archives of the Foundation of Annunciation, began in October of 1822. Within days ancient walls and the Holy Altar were found and uncovered. The work to rebuild began on November 25, carefully following the parameters of the ancient Church.
On January 30, 1823, the building of the Church already had the form, which you can see today with three arched halls.
Let’s see what Kangadis wrote about it all in his famous “Kangadis’ notes”:
“The work in the Lower Church was nearing completion. The inhabitants of the town and of the villages were building the Church, named the Life-Giving Well. Everybody was sure that the water source must exist. Suddenly one day, when the old well was being cleaned up, water burst forth miraculously. They did not find the Icon nor did they hope to find it there. So the Church was rebuilt. Nobody at that time thought about the construction of the upper Temple, which would shine and become the most gorgeous Temple of Annunciation, as we see it today. But the Miracle began here where our human strength and our conscience leaves off”.
You can see the words in the manuscript of the Manager are laconic and give us no room for doubt. With these short notes, we have described how the Miraculous Icon was found.
The right copy of the Holy Icon
Of Tinian artist Francisco Desipris
1858
DISCOVERY OF THE HOLY ICON
January 30, 1823 was the Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs. Although it was a religious holiday, the work on the Church continued. When the earth under the portico of the Life-Giving Well Church was broking up, the hatchet of one worker stroke a piece of wood. The workers picking it up and cleaning it, the workers saw it to be part of the Holy Icon. Of course, It was spoiled by time and had been burned on the back.
Once the Icon was cleaned properly, it appeared to show the Angel Gabriel holding out a lily to the Virgin Mary, the so- called Evangelismos. In spite of all the years that had passed and the fire that burned It the images were not spoilt completely. One piece showing the Archangel and the second one the kneeled Virgin accepting the Divine Message of Incarnation of the Savior could be seen clearly.
People understood that they finally had found the Holy Icon. They knelt before It, then gave It to the Bishop Gabriel. News of the discovery of the Holy Icon spread with lightening speed though the town of Tinos and the surrounding villages. Masses of people assembled from all directions to pay homage to the Icon, hoping that now the cholera epidemic would end.
Their hope was not in vain: The Miracle happened and people were cured. Among those cured was Peridis’ son. Only some days before, the first signs of the awful disease had appeared on the young man. H to escape the illness his parents were obliged to leave their home and place their son into hands of nurses.
Now, when the Holy Icon was discovered, Peridis knelt before It, pleading for his son’s recovery. Then he took some earth that was still covering the Icon, added some holy water and asked the nurses to rub his son with it. So this was done.
In the morning, trembling with fear, he went towards his house to find the news about the health of his son. All of a sudden, he saw his son coming towards him, completely cured. The overjoyed father went immediately to thank the Blessed Mother.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHURCH OF EVANGELISTRIA
Immediately after the discovery of the Holy Icon, a decision was made to reconstruct the whole Temple, the foundations of which had now been totally excavated from the ground. Very soon, the new building became to rise up. Its length was 19,5 meters and its width 12,1 meters. Such a big building needed more hands and more money. Meanwhile, the stream of pilgrims was growing. Not one pilgrim went away without help from the Holy Virgin. Therefore, the Blessed Mother kept her promise as money was gathered from the pilgrims for the building of her Temple. As many miracles happened, more people wished to ask for help from the Holy Icon.
The Temple is the real Miracle. It astonishes us by the luxury of the interior and by the marvelous work of the wooden details. One can be inspired by the work accomplished by our forbearers within such a short time. It is also amazing how carefully the Temple has been preserved to our days and continues to give joy to all those who wish to touch this Miracle.
However, let’s return to historical notes. Supposedly, the works on building and decorating of the Temple of Annunciation were finished by 1826:
1. The Altar, the icons and the iconography were made from 1824 until 1826.
2. Most of the money until 1826 was used for the Temple and the bell tower. In the following years substantial amounts of moneys were directed towards social needs.
Until 1832 work on the Church Complex continued, for example, in rebuilding the galleries. The marble columns, the decorations and the façade of the Temple, were finished in 1880.
2. THE HOLY TEMPLE OF ANNUNCIATION,
THE HOLY CHURCH OF THE FOUNTAIN OF SANCTIFICATION
AND THE COMPLEX AROUND THEM
The building of the Temple is two-stored. On the first floor there is a temple, called both – the Church of the Evresis, or the Fountain of Sanctification. On the upper floor is the famous Church of the Annunciation. The altars of these Churches face north.
The interior of the Holy Temple of Evresis
The lower floor consists of three arched galleries, connected with arched openings. Along the south gallery of the Temple there is a pronaos. There is also the place where the Holy Icon was found through the Divine Will of the Blessed Mother. In the first gallery we find the spring of holy water. In the second gallery is the ancient font, which is why this gallery is used for baptizing ceremonies.
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The Baptizing hall
The inner hall with the font
On the northern side of the gallery there is the column on which the “Holy Table” of the Annunciation Church leans upon, and one can find ruins of the ancient temple of St. John, the Precursor. On the western side of the gallery there is a font for the heterodox, who have now decided to be baptized orthodox.
The next gallery there is a museum for the heroes of the military ship “Elli”, which was sunk by the torpedo in 1940.
THE CHURCH OF ANNUNCIATION
The Church of Annunciation is of a tripartite Basilic form, which means that the space is divided in three parts, with the arch behind the Holy Altar. Two colonnades define the central space that is flanked by two lateral aisles. The columns are made in the classical way.
The Temple’s constructor was Eustratios Kollonaris, a famous architect from Smyrna who was born and educated there. Later he chose to live in Tinos.
The Temple of Annunciation has remained basicly unaltered until our days, except for the façade of the Temple and the bell-tower.
The door of the façade guides us to the Holy Icon, which is also called Megaloxaris. The Temple itself is called “Light Givening” for the thousands of candle lit for the Virgin. People say that these lights symbolize the immoral hope of humans for the Miracle. Every day the Blessed Virgin presents us with new Miracles.
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The inner side of the Annunciation Church
The marble pulpit
In 1825 Francisco Kanaxilis made the Icon-Stand of the Church from wood and painted it with pure gold leaf in the post- Byzantium tradition
The Holy Altar is situated tree steps above the floor of the main Church. There we can see also three niches (kiots) that hold icons. The middle one is a Throne of the Bishop. The eastern niche is a Holy Altar and holds the icon of the Ascension of our Lord. The western niche keeps the icon of Assumption of the Blessed Mother.
The Church of St. John, the Precursor, which adjoins the Church of Annunciation, is believed to have been built in 19th century.
THE BELL-TOWER
The Temple of Annunciation overlooks the Town of Tinos, as if taking care of it. The masonry of the tower base is built from the same stone as the Temple itself. Above it the delicate marble bell-tower adds to the sublimity of the whole Complex. It is 29 m. high and it both anchors and rules over the space below. On the top of the tower, there is a marble Cross.
Once, the bell-temple was 34 m. high and lighted by four oil-lamps, but with the Boreas, the northern wind, they were found to be very dangerous so they were taken away. The colonnades on three levels made from marble.
The bell-tower is the work of a sculptor named Ioannis Fillipotis, who was born in the town of Pirgos, situated on the north side of Tinos. Academic Anastasios Orlandos made the design of the tower. Their beautiful work looks like a hymn of Angels, one dedicated to their Lady – the Holy Virgin.
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THE MUSEUMS WITHIN THE TEMPLE COMPLEX
The founders of the Temple have collected the archeological treasures from the first days of the existence of the complex. Listen what German Ludwig Ross wrote about it in 1840:
“In the meeting-hall of the Temple archeological collection is exhibited. These findings are from Tinos and Delos, many of them rare and expensive.”
What we see today in the museums have grown from those small collection. Every year the museums are expanding, thanks to the efforts of each Commission.
There are five museums of the Holy Foundation:
1. THE MUSEUM OF ICONS AND CLERICAL TREASURES is located on the first floor of the western gallery and functions since 1971. Here are exhibited ancient icons collected from the many churches of Tinos. These icons have been carefully restored, so now we can see the traditional methods of Tinian icon painting.
There is an ancient map in the museum, which was created from the brush of Riga Fereu. It is one of only three originals that exist today by this painter. There is also Pope’s Bull (document), which was given to patriarch Gregory the Fifth. There is a golden ring of the national hero Theodoros Kolokotronis, which he himself presented to the Holy Icon.
There is also the first copy of the Holy Icon – Megaloxaris – made by the Tinian Francisco Desipris. There are first medals from the Olympic Games of 1825, which took place in Tinos. There are works on wood of the Tinian sculptor Ioannis Platis, and many, many others.
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The museum of clerical treasures. Icons
2. THE MUSEUM OF CLERICAL TREASURES is situated in the hall of the first gallery, which was built at the same time as the Temple. In previous years, the space was used as a library, then later as a class-room for Byzantine music. In its present form it has existed since 1996.
Here you can see the objects of the church-plate (the objects used in liturgy) from both silver and gold, which have been presented to the church over the years. There are also priests’ vestments embroidered with gold, icon-stands made from silver and decorated with precious stones, and gifts-tama from silver.
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The priests’ vestments. Gifts
3. THE GALLERY OF PAINTING is situated exactly opposite of the Temple façade. It exhibits a wonderful collection of Greek and foreign artists. This collection was founded by Athasios Papadopoulos in 1961, when he presented his own sculptures.
In the gallery one can see representation of different styles of painting: the Italian school, the Renaissance of the Greek islands of Eptanisia, the Flemish school, the Ionian school, Classicism, the French Romanticism and varies modern styles.
There are the masterpieces from Europe as well as Greece. All the great masters of Greece are here including Nikiforos Litra and Nikolaos Gizis, both of whom were born in Tinos.
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The gallery of painting
4. THE MUSEUM OF TINIAN SCULPTORS is in the western gallery and it holds works from all of the great Tinian masters. It was founded in 1930. Every year the Foundation Commission or the Tinian Brotherhood acquires new pieces for the museum.
In present days, the museum holds a rich collection New Greek sculpture, mostly from the nineteen’s and the beginning of twenty’s century. Many of these sculptures were presented to the Holy Foundation by the masters themselves, in gratitude to the Foundation for the support, they received.
Museum of Tinian Sculptures
5. ANTONIO SOHOS’ MUSEUM contains a special collection of the work of the academic and professor of the Polytechnic University in Athens. Soho was born in the village of Isternia on Tinos in 1888 and died in 1975. His art is represented by 16 sculptures from marble, gypsum and wood. He presented all these pieces in 1966.
OTHER SIGHTS OF COMPLEX
Within the Complex of the Holy Foundation are many buildings and offices that have been built to serve the needs of the pilgrims.
On the south side, at the very entrance of the Complex, there is a Chapel. Here the pilgrims can light their candles, as this is forbidden in the Temple itself. Stepping up the marble stairs, you find yourself in the yard. On the right side, you see the Reception Hall, where all guests are received and from where official receptions are organized.
On the west side, on the second floor are the offices of the personnel as well as the Management of the Foundation where the pilgrims can ask for information, or arrange for a wedding or a baptism (in the Temple of Annunciation), or to offer their gift.
Also on the west side we find the Confession place. Here priests give confessions, simple advice, or help you to prepare for the Sacrament Mystery (the Eucharist).
There are also rooms just behind the whole Complex, where pilgrims can be lodged free of charge. Here we must note that all ceremonies in the Temple are free, the pilgrim contributes only if he wishes to.
On the northern side of the Complex, there are doctor’s offices as well as offices for the priests.
The gallery of the Priests’ offices,
The doctors’ office and
The Manager offices
3. THE BENEFIT FOREVER – THE MIRACLES
“I announce benefit to the Earth”
The miracles of Jesus Christ, described by Mark (16-20) and Christ’s announcements, described by Ioannis (29) inspired in the hearts of people the deep belief in Jesus and Christianity. The miracles of the Blessed Mother helped people believe in the Megalochary of Tinos – Her Temple. The unusual stories of uncle Guzes, the gardener Polyzonis and of the nun Pelagia were similar in that the words of the Angel told to the Virgin were true. Miracles happen all the times to those who kneel in belief in front of her Icon.
That is why thousands of people who are suffering come to Her to ask Her for a miracle. They are thankful for Her help and present Her their gifts. There so many times the Blessed Mother concedes to requests and presents Her Miracles. We can witness this in the gifts-tama that are exposed everywhere in the Temple.
Each of these gift-tamata are different - some of them are extremely expensive, others not. All have been taken and put together with the same respect, because all of these presents have been brought with the same gratitude and with the same belief in the Holy Virgin’s Miracle.
In between the gifts, there are the real masterpieces. One of these is the marble “Piale” – the fountain, situated in the churchyard. This was a gift of Mustafa Aga Kiutachidgi, the Turkish officer, who once served in Crete.
He gave the “Piale”, planted four cypresses in the churchyard (which you can see today) and paid for this very yard to be covered with marble. All this was in appreciation of the Holy Virgin’s Miracle. This specific Miracle happened in 1845, when the friend and doctor of the paralyzed Mustafa Aga brought him to Tinos. This friend, who happened to be Greek, brought him to the liturgy and during it Mustafa Aga was cured. This happened because “Our Lord wishes the true worshippers to be cured in the name of the Truth”.
One of those gifts is an unusual silver lamp with a gold fish attached to its side and there is an interesting story behind it. Somewhere near to Tinos in 1850, a ship was holed in a ferocious storm. The crew prayed to the Blessed Mother…and was saved. The effect of this miraculous salvation seen when the ship entered in the port. The hole had been filled with the body of an enormous fish.
Millions of people have been convinced of the Holy Virgin’s Miracles. Christians as well as others admit to Her Miracle and bring Her their gifts. Every Miracle has been written down and is kept in the archive of the Holy Foundation. In these documents one can see the millions of witnesses, the millions of proofs to the humanity of our Lord.
The other gift we can see in the western side of the Church of Annunciation is a silver lamp which holds the superscription: “Spyros Mercuris, the major of Athens, July 1913”. The letter below explains why this gift is here.
Record N 3657 Athens, February 7, 1914
Athens’ Major
To the Committee of the Holy Temple of Annunciation of Tinos
I have the honor to send you my gift, the lamp, which I present to the Temple of Annunciation, in gratitude for my miraculous cure by the Holy Virgin from a serious illness. This illness was the result of tan operation, which was made on July 1913. Cordially I ask you to place my lamp in the place I have chosen during my last visit in Tinos.
Truly yours
The major of Athens, Spyros Mercuris
In the press of that time, we can read how the major of Athens took the ship to Tinos in desperation for he was losing blood as a result of an operation that he’d had undergone in Vienna.
But let’s read, what he writes himself:
“It happened, at night, when my wife and a nurse were by my side. Suddenly a woman of unreal beauty appeared, with her head was covered and wearing a nun’s dress. This Beauty looked at me as if she was unpleased with me. I was surprised and spoke first: “Blessed Mother”, - I recognized her immediately, – “What is my fault? Why do you punish me?” Her expression changed. Looking at me with tenderness she said: “Calm down, you shall be delivered from your suffering!” In short time the bleeding stopped, the pain left me and I felt better. In the morning the doctors came, expected to find me dead, but to their surprise I had recovered. In a week I returned in Athens totally healthy”.
Spyros Mercuris was elected mayor of Athens three times. He was never known as the adherent of religion. Nevertheless, in August 1922 he made another gift to the Temple of the Annunciation; a cross, which is crowning the icon-stand until now.
There is another masterpiece in the Temple - the silver orange tree with twelve gold-plated fruits and fourteen candlesticks. This is a gift from the Greek-American, Georgios Lambrakis, a man was blind and could not see. Hearing about the miracles of the Megalochary of Tinos he asked: “Please, Holy Virgin, return my vision and I’ll give you a present of the first thing I’ll see”. Immediately his vision returned to him and the first thing he saw in front of him was an orange tree growing in his garden. Therefore, Mr. Lambrakis ordered a jeweler to fashion a tree of precious metals and he brought it himself to Tinos.
As you see, the miracles of the God are a call of mutual trust and love. St. Augustine wrote: “Our Lord cares about his flock: whether it is the whole, or each individual person in it. But even if the flock held only one person, God would forget about the earth and the sky and would care only about him”.
Our Lord wanted to demonstrate to humans his care and love. All the Saints have helped the plan God’s plan to become reality. The Jesus and Holy Virgin have been the major guiding force.
Now we would like to give you some examples of this care as they have been written down in the archives of the Holy Foundation:
“In Athens at 3 o’clock on a July day in seventies a man walked along a street. He was very upset. Suddenly he stopped, looked at the sky and applied to God with a prayer. Suddenly, he had a vision. He saw the white marble bell-tower of the Temple of Annunciation of Tinos. It seemed to him as if he was travelling by ship near the cost of Kionia. It was beautiful summer day and all the details of the tower seemed to be bathed in white light”.
By this vision, our Lord showed this man that he had heard his prayer; showing him the way to go to the Temple of Annunciation of Tinos and ask the Holy Virgin for help. The Virgin always helps everyone who is in need and She blesses everybody who believes in Her.
Our second story takes place on Tinos. In 1971, just before the feast of the Holy Virgin, Stiliany Marabotu was standing on the thresh-hold of her house, which happened to be the same house Kangadis had owned in 1823. As it was the time of the Holy Feast, thousands of pilgrims had come to Tinos and all of the rental rooms were full.
Two women came to Stiliany and asked her if she had a small space for a child.
The host said that she has no free room, but would make a space for them in her own room, next to her family. Agreeing with this, women went for vespers in the church. At three o’clock, the child began to cry and the women went out to find the house of Stiliany. As they entered the main street, they realized that they had no idea where to go, for they had forgotten to ask the name of their host and how to reach her house. At this moment a woman came to them and said she would take them and show them the way. The women did not ask themselves how this unknown woman knew of their need. They followed the woman to Stiliani’s house and she knocked on the door. The host opened the door and saw three women instead of two and she said: “Unfortunately, I don’t have enough space for all of you”.
Then the unknown woman asked: “You mean you don’t have space for me?” – and she disappeared. Immediately they understood that this woman must have been the Virgin Herself, for how could she have known what they were looking for? Afterwards they learned that Stiliani’s house was the house of Stamatelo Kangadis, which was the first to shelter the Holy Icon on January 30 of 1823.
The third story was witnessed by an important person. When the Miracle happened to him on July 29, 1980, he was occupying a high post in Crete. After a difficult childbirth giving, his wife continued to bleed tragically. Four doctors Mr. Polyxronakis, Makrakis, Orfanos and Pachakis decided to give her a blood transfusion. Despite this, her condition continued to deteriorate.
This time her relatives applied to the Blessed Mother, praying for Her to help the poor woman. Without delay the woman began to feel better. When the woman had fully recovered, her husband decided to move and to live on Tinos. Since then they lived and worked on the island, near to the house of the Holy Virgin.
As the academic, Marcos Siotis says: “In trying to save the Soul of Humans, our Lord uses two factors: the miracle and the belief, both of which are help to popularize His religion. In his notes, Marcos Siotis writes about his own experience in 1972:
“The vespers had just finished and people were waiting to kiss the Holy Icon. In some time, the all night vigil was to begin. Next to the Icon, the priest was reading the canons. The Miracle happened on dawn.
“The light in the church lowered as if all the lamps had been switched off. Miraculously, a mild light poured around the congregation without making shades and an emotion like an electric charge surged though them. Silence fell. Suddenly words were heard: “Holy Virgin, save me!”, and then: “It’s our Lady! The Blessed Mother!”
“At this time I was sitting near to the altar, on a dais. When I heard the voices, I stood up and saw Her… it’s strange to say, I saw the Blessed Mother! At once, three miracles happened: The dumb began to speak, a paralyzed girl stood up from her armchair and the epileptics had been cured. Everyone understood that was the Holy Virgin who had made these miracles”…
Everywhere in the Temple we can see the gifts of pilgrims as proof of the miracles which have happened here. Most are modest offerings for the Gift Her Icon has bestowed.
This Icon, coming though the fire, having been burried in the ground and found on January 30, 1823 is today the symbol of the rebirth of Orthodoxy and the Greek nation. It is proof of Christ’s love and care and of the presence of the Holy Virgin near to us.
THE HOLY FOUNDATION OF THE ANNUNCIATION
AND IT’S ACTIVITIES
PARTICIPATING IN MODERN HISTORY
Under the dome of the Holy Temple the heart of nation is beating. The finding of the Holy Icon was coincident with the beginning of the National movement against the Turkish yoke. When the Icon was found, people took it to be a benediction of the God for the rebirth of the National independence of Greece. All the heroic figures of the movement – Kanaris, Karaiskakis, Makriannis, Kolokotronis, Nikitaras and others counted it their duty to kneel and bow before the Holy Evangelistria of Tinos.
The decision by Tinians to take care of thousands immigrates was born exactly under the dome of Evangelistria. The Greeks from Psara, Kasso, Crete, Turkey and Near East were chased from places where they lived for thousand years. The Holy Foundation absorbed the expenses of all those immigrants. Schools were built, the first schools of these times.
The Holy Foundation of Annunciation helped the inhabitants of Crete in their fight against the aggressor. It gave a large amount of money to the new State of Greece to develop the Navy and to build the Athens University.
As mush of historical Greece was not free, the people living in the yoked provinces looked to free Tinos as an ideal. They all wished to reach Tinos, to bow to the Holy Icon and to ask Her for help - dreaming of a free and independent Greece. Here they came to decide important questions in their fight for Freedom.
Mausoleum of “Elli”, keeps the part of torpedo, which destroyed it
Some years passed and under the dome of Evangelistria on March 25, 1912, the Bishop Athanasios announce the Rebirth of the Greek nation and the Independence of Greece. It is interesting that on that year the feast of Independence coincided with the feast of Annunciation and with Orthodox Easter. That is why on that day the military ship “Averov” was sprinkled with the holy water. The ship was on its way to the Balkans, to free the Greek lands from aggressors, but it stayed in the port of Tinos to greet the Blessed Mother in Her feast. People wished the crew a quick victory. Like the answer to a prayer , the news of the Victory in the Balkans came a few days later. That was the blessing of the Holy Virgin of Tinos.
On August 15,1940, while celebrating the birthday of the Blessed Mother on Tinos, many pronouncements for victory over the fascists were heard. The war in Europe was at its height. Suddenly an Italian fascist submarine fired towards the port of Tinos, where the warship “Elli” was moored to attend the great feast. Immediately the “Elli” began to sink. Miraculously, all of the crew was saved.
The Holy Virgin also helped to strike a blow on the Albanian front. In December of the same year, the Committee of the Holy Foundation presented to the government church treasurs and jewelry of the Temple and of the Holy Icon for the war against Fascism. When on March 25, 1945, Greece was celebrating the victory over Fascism, the Greek government kindly asked the Holy Foundation to send the Holy Icon to Athens to be able to thank It properly for everything It had done for the nation.
All these facts proof that the Holy Mother makes Her miracles again and again. The question is: why was Tinos chosen by God as the center of Orthodoxy and as the pilgrimage place for the whole of Greece?
Everything we have told you explains why the Holy Foundation of Evangelistria became an Organism of great National importance. (Rule N 349/76 of the Holy Foundation of Evangelistria of Tinos).
SUPPORTING IN EDUCATION
From the moment, when the Holy Icon was discovered on Tinos, the Managers of the excavations decided that the Holy Foundation must help in the sphere of education, using the funds which pilgrims have dedicated to the Holy Mother. The Holy Virgin blessed this decision. Thus, the Holy Foundation of the Annunciation began to patronize Education, Art and Culture. It is interesting that December 30, the date when the Icon was discovered, used to be the feast of the Three Hierarchs, who are the patrons of the Education.
What follows will show us how Tinos became the most important place in Modern Greece. In October 14, 1833, the Holy Foundation made an important step in their care of the Education. The Commission sent to the Secretariat of Clerical and Government Education a note requesting that a few places in different high schools be kept. The Commission than took the obligation to pay for those places. In the note 11 schools are mentioned – three Greek ones, one French and seven English.
So called “The Greek School”, one of the schools which are under the sponsorship of the Holy Foundation, began its activities in 1824. Its director was a brilliant specialist of Greek language – Eustratios Petru, and The Holy Foundation of Evangelistria paid his salary.
In 1838, the Holy Foundation organized the Parish Music School and many remarkable musicians and parish choristers have graduated from this school. The expenses of the school have been paid by the Foundation.
The Holy Foundation organized the School of Silk Processing and the Biotechnical School in the Monastery of Kechrovunio. In 1836, the mayor of Tinos Francisco Manos asked the Greek Government to open a Primary School in Tinos. Unfortunately, this request was not satisfied until 90 years later, and not by the government, but by the Holy Foundation of Evangelistria on February 9, 1925. Every class in this Primary school cost the Holy Foundation 25.000 drachmas. The Holy Foundation absorbed the expenses of a new building for the Primary School that was built in 1954. Until now, Primary School education is situated in the same building.
The most important step of the Holy Foundation was made in 1840, when it established scholarships for young and talented Tinians, who must continue their Universities and in Post-graduating studies elsewhere in Greece and abroad. Many graduates from these scholarships are well known in Greece and some – in the whole world. Such names as– Georgios Vitalis, Iannulis Halepas, Dimitris Fillipotis, Nikiforos Litras, Nikolaos Gizis, Lazaros Sohos, and Nikolaos Luvaris.
Since 1956 the Holy Foundation has supported the Trade School of Art in Pirgos. This school is unique because of its rich background in sculpture and painting. Many graduates of this school continue their studies at the High School of Art in Athens supported by the Holy Foundation. Some of them take their scholarship to study abroad.
In 1960 the Holy Foundation decided to build a Clerical School of Tinos on land belonging to the Foundation. This school consists of the Primary Clerical School and the Lyceum, and boys from all over the Greece study there. The Holy Foundation has built as well the Palace of Culture, which includes the Public Library.
In our days, the Holy Foundation continues to support Tinians. Every year a large amount of money is given to schools, school commissions, and parent’s societies, for school instruments, organizing cultural events, and scholarships for the best students. Every year The Holy Foundation gives 3000 euro to Athens Academy to support a prize for the best theological work.
PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES
When the Holy Icon was discovered, money was needed for the rebuilding. But as the first priority of the Holy Foundation was to help people, immediate support was offered to the Greeks who were forced from the areas under the Turkish yoke and to those children whose parents had been killed. These children were adopted into Tinian families, and the Holy Foundation paid their expenses. Generally, the Foundation counts philanthropy as its most important activity.
In 1957, the Commission of the Foundation repaired a building on its property and presented it as an Old people’s House. Thirty older citizens took their place in this institution. This support was 72 000 drachmas for expenses and salaries of personnel.
In 1985, a new and modern building was built for the old people of Tinos and The Holy Foundation paid all the expenses. Here the Holy Virgin shelters every older person who is in need. In 2005, the Foundation decided to offer the whole building of the Old People’s House to its own organization yet to continue to pay its everyday expenses.
The old people’s house
The Foundation organized a Health Center to serve the needs of Tinians and the pilgrims. The Commission offers the Government to unite the Center with the National Health System. Every year the Foundation helps the Center with large amounts or with buying necessary medical and diagnostic equipment.
Besides this, the Holy Foundation gives help to people who are in need, and who are ill. This help may be in different forms:
a) Monthly help, to people who are in a permanent need.
b) Single help. Such as a certain amount for difficult situation – serious illness, serious operation, or an accident.
The Holy Foundation has thoughtfully arranged a guesthouse (Xenonas) for pilgrims. It also helps young girls in need, offering them a dowry. It also gives aid in places where natural catastrophes have occurred (earthquakes, floods, fires), or in places struck by epidemics, wars or hunger.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
The Holy Foundation cares about religion all over the Greece, yet the Cyclades compels its attention much more than other places. This is because the population of the Cyclades had suffered from heterodox propaganda for thousands of years. (Remember, the
Venetian protectorate, and later the Turkish yoke). That is why the Orthodox Church all over the world continues its religious activities.
The Holy Foundation of Evangelistria patronizes and cares about the church institutions (the Metropolis, the monasteries and the temples), as well as the missions serving them, which have been built all over the world during different centuries.
It helps churches and chapels, sometimes with accounts of money, or it offers them the free use of church. It helps with the building of churches all over the Greece, cares about the religious schools of Tinos, paying all the bills, and supports Clerical conferences which it organizes with the Holy Metropolis. These conferences take place in the Cultural Foundation of Tinos, restored with the help of the Foundation.
The Holy Foundation also supports the Apostolic Deaconry of the Greek Church and the Holy Metropolis of Syros and Tinos. It cares about the priest’s retirement fund as well as welcoming of numerous pilgrims and all their needs.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
The Holy Foundation of the Annunciation supports the social life of Tinos. From the time, when government pensions were not paid, the Foundation supported both priests and schoolteachers who could no longer work.
The Foundation presents large sums of money for various social works on Tinos and beyond her shores. As it was necessary to think about a suitable reception for guests arriving on the island and as economic development is important for Tinos, the Foundation contributed to the following;
a) widening the road of Megalochary and placing marble cobblestones on the old road of Evangelistria
b) installing the water system of the town
c) installing the electrical system of the island (in 1929 3 500 000 drachmas was paid) d)building the modern port of Tinos.
The Foundation presents large amounts for any needed social work on the island. And, finally, it gives 10% of its yearly income to the millions of pilgrims who bring their pain and their happiness to the Holy Temple of the Annunciation.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
“Only religion can unite the best of our spiritual culture and ethics, and teach society to use them, as the blessing of God”, - said academic Marcos Siotis. This explains why the Holy Foundation cares for cultural life so much. Religion is the soul of the nation, and culture truly and faithfully serves the religion.
This is why the Foundation organizes lectures and scientific congresses with the best scientists all over Greece and all over the World. These activities help spread the culture of Greece.
Here we must say a few words about the Cultural Foundation of Tinos. It is situated in a neoclassical building, overlooking the port of the island. Many cultural events now take place in the Center (seminars, conferences, exhibitions). The Foundation building includes four conference halls with a capacity of up to 350 participants, a library with a reading room, a bookshop, a shop, a café and offices. The foundation’s personal is always ready to help the visitors.
An institution of common benefit, the foundation aims to foster research and promotion of the history, art and traditions of Tinos to help these became national property. It is for this reason that Cultural Foundation organizes exhibitions, musical venues, conferences, congresses, edits books and brochures.
There are exhibitions in the building of the great Greek painters of Tinian origin – Nikolaos Gizis and Nikiforos Litras, and sculptor – Iannulis Halepas. The Foundation edits books that relate to Tinos, its history and art, or to the Holy Foundation and the history of its own existence.
The building of the Cultural Foundation
The Cultural Foundation also takes active part in auctions to buy pieces of the Great painters and sculptures of Tinian origin. Such pieces would be exhibited in the Cultural Foundation, or even take their place in the museum of the Holy Foundation of Evangelistria itself.
The Holy Foundation of Evangelistria also supports the band, the school of Byzantine Music, and the school of Icon painting.
The piece of art, blessed by God…
5. FEASTS OF THE HOLY CHURCH
OF ANNUNCIATION OF TINOS
January 30, the anniversary of the discovering of the Holy Icon in Tinos
The most important feast in Tinos is the celebration of the day when the Holy Icon was discovered. The entire population of the island takes part in this feast. Those who for some reason are absent must try to reconstruct the feast in their soul.
In the afternoon of the eve of the Anniversary, the Holy Icon is transported with great pomp and honor to the Lower Church. There it is placed in the exact location where it lay buried for centuries. The Service which follows is dedicated to the Finding of the Holy Icon.
On the next day, January 30, at two o’clock p.m., a Hierarchal Liturgy is celebrated in the Church of the Annunciation. The Holy Icon is carried from the Lower Church though the gaily-decorated streets of Tinos, with the church bells ringing throughout the countryside, and accompanied by thousands of believers. The Icon is carried in a gold and silver canopy held by the churchwardens and local authorities. The cortege repeats the first journey It made on February 2, 1823, through the roads of Tinos.
The eve of the Anniversary
The Holy Icon is transported in church of Evresis
The whole population sings the hymn:”We, Tinians, celebrate
the Holy Icon Finding and sing our hymn…” January 30
After prayers, the Holy Icon is returned to her Marble Palace. Then flowers of memoriam are laid on the graves of the builders of the Church. After that, the Bishop, as President of the Holy Foundation, reports on the activities of the Foundation during the past year and renders a yearly account of its finances.
In the evening the schoolchildren together with the Bishop, the officials of the island, the priests and the guests of Tinos all holding multicolored lighted lamps, sing the hymns commemorating the Finding of the Holy Icon. The lighted lanterns symbolize the finding of the Icon. The cortege pours along the streets of Tinos. When they arrive at the Marble Pedestal near the port the Icon is raised above the crowed, and all sing: “We, Tinians, celebrate the Finding of the Holy Icon and sing our hymn…”, and the other hymn: “Glory Holy Mary! Glory, the Blessed Mother!” The air is full of miracle. Everybody tries to keep this miracle in his soul forever.
March 25, the anniversary of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mother
This day has a double meaning for the Greeks, for they celebrate simultaneously the Annunciation of our Lady by the Archangel Gabriel, and the Anniversary of the Greek Liberation against the Ottoman Empire.
As we have already told you, the Finding of the Holy Icon definitely gave great strength to the Liberating Movement, from the beginning in1821 and finishing with full liberation of the Greek nation from its yoke of 400 years. Until the year 1920 pilgrims from Asia Minor flocked to the adore The Holy Icon, in spite of bad climatic conditions.
On the eve of the celebration the Church is left open all night, permitting people to remain for all-night prayer vigil. On the day of the feast, a Hierarchical Liturgy is celebrated, after which the Holy Icon is carried in a procession down to quay of the town.
July 23, the anniversary of the vision of St. Pelagia
The people consecrate this day to the memory of St. Pelagia, the pious nun who experienced the great privilege of being visited in her poor cell by our Lady and was instructed to annunciate the finding of the Holy Icon.
Early in the morning of July 23 the Icon is transferred to the monastery of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother in Kechrovunio, accompanied by the nuns and the pilgrims. A Requiem is held in the cell of St. Pelagia, and the whole day the worshippers bow before the Holy Icon. The nuns of the Monastery, wonderful hosts for the whole day, take care of all the worshippers.
At eight o’clock the bells cry, as if to say farewell to the Icon - the face of the Lady of the Angels wishes to return to Her Palace.
As the cortege passes by the village churches and chapels on its way down, their bells are heard as the inhabitants come near to the Icon with the lighted candles. The wind spreads away the hymns of the people all over the island. Only late in the evening does the Holy Icon return to her Temple.
August 15, the Assumption of the Blessed Mother
From the first days of August Tinos fills with pilgrims. The Prayers last until August 13. The final one concludes with great ceremony in the churchyard of the Temple of the Holy Virgin. The next day, on the eve of the feast, hundreds of ships arrive in the port. The whole town is decorated with flags and flowers and turns into a guesthouse. People take to the church their gifts-tama, to kneel and bow before the Icon, asking for Her blessing, or to give thanks for what She has already done.
There are people who bring ill relatives with them, who bring their children, asking to return their health. All these people are waiting for a Miracle - and the Miracles happen. The people who help to carry the Holy Icon can witness the whispered thanks which are heard on this day.
On the eve of the anniversary, the guests from the Government, the military and navy officials arrive. With them the navy and the military orchestras arrive to honor the Megalochary. After vespers, the crowd of worshippers fills both the Church and the Churchyard, adoring Her. The mystical and inspiring atmosphere which is created inside the Church in course of the Holy Liturgy in the Temple of Evangelistria, reveals the vision of the Holy Virgin to be seen.
The Icon rests on an elaborate bier and is carried by the navy officers. Priests, officials and the worshippers follow the cortege behind the Icon. Crowds of worshippers wait in the sun until they can pass under the Icon and touch It. This day stays in the hearts of people for their whole life.
The Holy Icon leaves Her Palace
People who adores Her
6. THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOLY FOUNDATION
The people who serve in Administration of the Holy Foundation are devoted to the Holy Virgin. The tradition began from the day when Bishop Gabriel called the firsts members of the Commission and charged them with the building of the Temple. These people took the name of Managers. They had to find the Holy Icon, and to build the Temples of Evresis and Evangelistria. The Managers wrote the brochure “The Will of Managers” , where they explained the principles of the management of the Holy Foundation for further Commissions. This was in 1825. Today the Holy Foundation is under the care of the Ministry of the National Education and Religion, but has its own laws of managing (N349/76 and N2740/99).
The Holy Foundation is neither a parish church nor a monastery. It is the organ of the National institution. Its economic activity is examined by the National Departure of Counting and Inspection Commission, and its budget by the Ministry of the Education and the Ministry of Economics.
. The President of the Commission is always the Bishop of Syros and Tinos. The commission is made up of 9 persons plus the Bishop. The others are elected by voting every 3 years by a special voting organization consisting of the members of the Topical Management of the first and the second category, members of the People’s Council, and members of the “Tinos Brotherhood” Council.
The aspirants have to be Tinians and the Christian-Orthodox. The Managing Commission votes the Assistant President and the Secretary. The members of the Commission do not draw a salary, because their title is honorable. The income of the Holy Foundation comes from donations made all over the world: from parish ceremonies, from bequeaths and from rents of property.
SERVICE
DEDICATED TO THE FINDING OF THE HOLY ICON
OF ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED MOTHER
IN TINOS
Written by the monk Gerasimos Mikraiannanitos, the hymn-writer from
the Great Church of the Christ in Agios Oros, 1963
VESPERS
On the day of vespers at three o’clock p.m. the bell of the Holy Church of the Annunciation (Evangelistria) and of all the other churches in Tinos town begin ringing. The pompous cortege with the Holy Icon in the front leaves the Temple of the Blessed Mother accompanied by the priests of all the parishes of Tinos, the members of the Commission of the Holy Foundation, the political and military officials, and it is replaced in the Lower Church of Evresis. The Great Vesper hymns follows.
THE ORDER IN WHICH THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE MIRACULOUS ICON OF EVANGELISTRIA ON TINOS ISLAND IS CELEBRATED
ON JANUARY 30
On January 29, at 2.30 p.m. in the Church of Evresis all the silver and gold lamps are lit and the bell ringing begins. The liturgy is said in the main temple. The Bishop sings the psalm which in the Byzantine service is called the 9th hour. When the psalmody stops, the priests, deacons, and 14 lay brothers appear, stepping up to the Holy Altar. The priests and deacons are wearing cassocks embroidered by gold, the lay brothers are wearing gold knitted cassocks, as they all go out of the Church.
Six lay brothers holding silver lamps and gonfalons stay in the customary order behind the entrance of the Church. Eight lay brothers holding lighted candles, stop next to the choir. Two of them kneel before the Holy Icon, lift It off Its stand and hold it in their hands. The archdeacon fans the Icon with incense, which he holds in his right hand, in his left he holds a lighted candle. The cortege goes downstairs to the Church of Evresis.
The members of the Holy Commission stand behind the Icon, holding multicolour-lighted lamps, singing the psalm “Glory on You”, dedicated to the Blessed Mother. A twenty-one-gun salute is heard. The bell ringing continues until the cortege goes inside the church of Evresis.
They set the Icon upon the decorated iconostasis. First, the members of the Commission kneel before It, then, the choir and others. At the Holy Altar, the celebrated vesper liturgy begins.
At eight o’clock p.m. one lay brother lights all the lamps and candelabras of the church and rings the bells. The liturgy begins, which in Byzantine calendar is called the 9th hour, in the church Evresis. As the liturgy finishes, the priests, deacons, lay brothers enter into the Altar, put on their gold embroidered vestments and, keeping the lamps lit and singing psalms dedicated to the blessed Mother, they go upstairs into the main church of Evangelistria.
Two priests hold the Holy Icon in the main church. The bells ring and the ships in the port of Tinos give a cannonade. The Icon takes Its place on the Holy iconostasis. The priest prays: “Our Lord, save and hold us…” and the choir follows him with: “Take pity on us!”. The priest asks for the health of the Archbishop, of members of the Commission, of grantors and every worshipper of the Holy Icon, including the Managers and Builders of the Holy Church. He also asks to save all Christians. Then he says three prays for the Blessed Mother.
After all these traditional ceremonies, the priests follow him into the Holy Altar each one of them blesses the other and the vespers begin in customary service. The hymn, giving thanks for the finding of the Holy Icon, begins.
THE DECLARATION
This edition is printed on order of the Holy Commission of the Holy Foundation of Evangelistria and it is intended for the needs of the Holy Foundation.
The Commission Management
