Monastery of Virgin Mary Megalohari | Tinos | Cyclades

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The Monastery Panagia Megalohari is the most important religious pilgrimage center and the saint protector of Greece. The name of the church is Panagia Megalohari means with all graces and it is dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. According to tradition, the church was constructed following the dream of a nun from the monastery of Kehrovouni who later became a saint, Pelagia. In January 30 of 1823, the nun dug in a particular place that Virgin Mary told her and found the holy icon depicting Virgin Mary praying. As the icon was found two years after the Greek Revolution has started, it was considered as a good sign. Many leaders actually, including Georgios Karaiskakis and Theodoros Kolokotronis came to Tinos to pray to the icon. The monastery complex of Panagia Megalohari was originally built on the site of a byzantine church dedicated to Saint John. The whole monastery was built on top of the small chapel of Apocalypse. Next to the copy of the holy icon, there is a fountain from where one can take holy water. The main church is an impressive building made with the white marble of Tinos while the beautiful bell tower stands in front of the stairs. Holy services are performed on a daily basis. The church of Panagia Megalohari celebrates three times every year. These include the date when the icon was found, January 30, the day of the Annunciation of the Virgin, March 25, and the day of the Assumption of the Virgin, August 15.  Worth mentioning that many pilgrims cover the distance from the port of Tinos to the church on the hill above Hora on their knees. As the path is rough and the knees will get injured, a long red carpet has been laid from the entrance of the church to the port.

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Church of Virgin Mary Portaitissa | Astypalea | Dodecanese

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The Church of Panagia Portaitissa is one of the most beautiful churches of the Dodecanese islands located in Hora of Astypalea. Panagia Portaitissa is the religious center of the island. The church was built from Agios Anthimos from Kefalonia in 1762. The construction of the church lasted for a period of nine years. The church celebrates in honour of Virgin Mary on August 15. This is considered to be the biggest traditional festival of Astypalea.

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Monastery of Virgin Mary Hrisopigi | Sifnos | Cyclades

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The Monastery of Chrissopigi is the religious center of Sifnos and the patron saint of the island located on top of a rock upon the sea, separated from the rest of the island with a narrow stretch of sea, close to the bay of Platis Gialos. The monastery was established in the 16^th century on top of an older church. According to tradition, nuns were living in the monastery during the medieval times. Following a pirate invasion, the nuns ran to hide but one nun did not manage to be saved. She prayed on Virgin Mary to save her, and this was the time that the rock was cut into two parts and the pirates fell in the sea. The name Chrissopigi was given from the Cretan monk Parthenios, who named it after the monastery of Chrissopigi in Chania, Crete.

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Monastery of Virgin Mary Hozoviotissa | Amorgos | Cyclades

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The Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa is one of the most beautiful religious and historical sites of the Aegean built into the face of a cliff above the beach of Agia Anna. The monastery has a timeless beauty characterized from unique architecture. It was built from Alexius Comnenus during the 11^th century. Although accessibility to the monastery might be challenging, the view is really rewarding, as it is one of the best views of the Aegean. The monastery celebrates in honour of the saint on November 21.

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Monastery of Virgin Mary | Folegandros | Cyclades

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The Church of Panagia is the largest church of the island dedicated to the Dormition of Virgin Mary. The church is built on a rocky hill above Hora on the foundations of an ancient temple. It is an impressive whitewashed church that displays an ancient inscription, sculpture and statue bases in the charming courtyard of the interior of the church. The marble epigraph inside the church refers to the renovation of the temple that took its present form after the reconstruction that was completed in 1821. The icon of Virgin Mary is linked with the pirate legends of Folegandros and it is carried to all the homes of Folegandros during the Easter. The church is accessible through a cobblestone street starting from the square of Pounda in Hora.

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Monastery of Virgin Mary Ekatodapyliani| Paros | Cyclades

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The Monastery of Panagia Ekatodapyliani is one of the best preserved paleochristian monuments of the country located in the castle district of Parikia. According to the legend, the original church was constructed from Saint Constantine, the first Emperor of Constantinople, following the offering of his mother, Saint Helene. During her journey to the Holy Land, a storm brought her in the island of Paros and promised to build a church to the Virgin if her quest for the Holy Cross was successful. The church of Panagia Ekatodapyliani was constructed from her son after her death. Today, the church has paleochristian, byzantine and post byzantine elements made through the centuries. The name of the church means the church with the hundred doors. According to tradition, the church has ninety nine doors and one secret door that will open only when the church of Hagia Sofia in Constantinople will be Orthodox again. The monastery celebrates on August 15 with a large religious festival.

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Monastery of Virgin Mary Harou | Lipsi | Dodecanese

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The Church of Panagia of Harou (Virgin of Death) is the most important religious monument of Lipsi located on the eastern coast of the island. The beautiful church boasts a wonderful architecture. Inside the church, one can admire the miraculous image representing Virgin Mary holding the crucified Jesus Christ. The church celebrates in honour of the saint on August 23.

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Church of Virgin Mary Kalamiotissa | Anafi | Cyclades

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The Old Monastery of Panagia Kalamiotissa is the most important religious monument of Anafi located on the hill of Kalamos Rock. The monastery is a single room domed temple with interesting architectural style. Although the hiking path that leads to the monastery is difficult, the view from the monastery is one of the best of the Aegean. Keep in mind that entry to the monastery is only possible with prior arrangement.

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Church of Virgin Mary Krimniotissa | Samothrace | Northeast Aegean

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The Chapel of Panagia Krimniotissa is located in the area of Pahia Ammos. The chapel is built on a high cliff offering astonishing views to the Aegean. According to tradition, the icon of Virgin Mary was thrown in the sea from some Christians of Asia Minor in order to save it from the iconoclasts. However, some sailors found the icon floating in the sea and took it. Thereafter, the captain saw in his sleep Virgin Mary who asked him to go to Samothrace. Although the captain went to the island and the icon was placed in the church, every night the icon was gone and the inhabitants found in on the tall rock. Therefore, the inhabitants built the chapel of Panagia Krimniotissa on that spot.

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Church of Virgin Mary Kanala | Kythnos | Cyclades

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The Monastery of Panagia Kanala is the patron of the island and the most important religious monument of Kythnos located above the village of Kanala on the east side of the island. The monastery is the oldest monastery of the island and it is distinguished for its exquisite architectural style. According to tradition, a column of light revealed the location of the holy icon of Virgin Mary to the fishermen. The monastery celebrates in honor of the saint on August 15. During the celebration, the reenactment of the way that the original icon was found along with the procession of the icon is held within the monastery. Panagia Kanala is the patron saint and protector of Kythnos.

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Church of Virgin Mary Pantohara | Sikinos | Cyclades

The Church of Panagia Pantohara is one of the most beautiful churches of Sikinos located in the middle of the route from Hora to the monastery of Zoodohos Pigi. The church constitutes a personal solemn promise of Odysseus Elytis, one of the most notable poets of Greece and a Nobel Prize winner, which construction was completed in 2011 from his wife namely Ioulita Iliopoulou, as it was one of the last wishes of the poet.

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Church of Virgin Mary Paraportiani | Mykonos | Cyclades

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The Church of Panagia Paraportiani stands by the sea at the entrance of the neighborhood of Kastro. It is one of the most photographed churches of Greece. The complex of this religious monument consists from five small churches built one right next to each other. The church of Agios Efstathios stands on the center surrounded from the churches of Agia Anastasia, Agios Anargiros and Agios Sozon. The church of Virgin Mary stands on top of these churches.

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Church of Virgin Mary Thalassitra | Milos | Cyclades

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The Church of Panagia Thalassitra is a church of exquisite architecture located at the top of the castle of Plaka. It is a beautiful church with an impressive stone bell tower and folklore stone reliefs that is dedicated to the Presentation of Christ. Here, one can admire one of the most beautiful sunsets in the Aegean.

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Monastery of Virgin Mary Kastriani | Kea | Cyclades

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The Monastery of Panagia Kastriani is the patron saint of Kea located on the northern side of the island. It is the most important religious monument of Kea standing on the edge of imposing hill overlooking the deep blue of the Aegean. According to tradition, some shepherds saw a light on top of the hill of Kastri where they climbed and found the icon of Virgin Mary in 1700 AD. On this spot, these shepherds built a church. In the premises of the monastery, there are guesthouses and monk cells. The monastery celebrates in honor of the saint on the August 15. This is one of the largest traditional celebrations of Kea.

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Church of Virgin Mary Akathi | Schinoussa | Cyclades

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The Church of Panagia Akathi is the most important religious center of Schinoussa located in the village of Panagia. Panagia Akathi is the saint protector of the island. The temple was costructed with the typical architecture of the Cyclades with an impressive blue dome and a bell tower. The church hosts the valuable icon of Virgin Mary Akathi. On August 15, the largest religious celebration of Schinoussa takes place in the church.

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Church of Virgin Mary Kakaviotissa | Lemnos | Northeast Aegean

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The Church of Panagia Kakaviotissa is one of the most impressive churches of Lemnos lying between geological shapes on the mountain slopes of Kakavos. The church is located inside a rock cavity at an altitude of 260 meters close to the village of Thanos. Some monks built the church in 1.416 AC with the intention of escaping from the invasions of the Ottomans. The striking location of the church offers breathtaking views to the mountainside and the sea of the island. Panagia Kakaviotissa celebrates on Tuesday after Easter Sunday. Access is possible through a hiking route.

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