Panayia tis Tinou: a most important church for the Greek-Orthodox faith. Throughout the year pilgrims gather from all over Greece to pay respect to the Holy Icon kept in this church. The icon is strongly believed to be miraculous. Especially in August, the whole island is swamped by pilgrims who have come to pray in Her church or in fulfilment of a vow. As Our Lady's feast day on 15 August approaches, the church and the town of Tinos become crammed with people, and religious services take place next to the commercial fair being held in the surrounding streets. The church stands imposingly, high up at the end of the main road. It is built of white marble and is ringed by a number of ancillary buildings.
The famous healing icon of Our Lady dominates its interior. It is studded with diamonds, sapphires and pearls, the offerings of emperors, kings and the faithful. The church was built in 1823, during the revolt of the Hellenes against the Ottoman rule, on the spot where the miraculous icon was found. Marble from the nearby island of Delos was used, abandoned for almost sixteen centuries.
Our Lady of Tinos: Outer view |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Outer view |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Outer view |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Façade upper floor |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Belfry |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Belfry |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Eastern side and Belfry |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Inside yard from Upper floor (The actual church level) |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Side Yard |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Looking towards the entrance from the street |
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Our Lady of Tinos: End of pilgrimage |
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Our Lady of Tinos: End of pilgrimage |
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Our Lady of Tinos: End of pilgrimage |
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Our Lady of Tinos: End of pilgrimage |
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Our Lady of Tinos: End of pilgrimage of Bronze |
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Our Lady of Tinos: End of pilgrimage of Bronze |
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Our Lady of Tinos: End of pilgrimage of Bronze |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Belfry |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Approaching the entrance |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Group of pilgrims at the entrance |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Group of pilgrims at the entrance |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Group of pilgrims at the entrance carrying huge candles |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Candle seller at the entrance |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Inside the entrance |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Vintage photographic equipment (fully functioning) in the church yard |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Fresco over a side entrance |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Fresco 'Humiliation of Christ' |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Fresco 'Humiliation of Christ' (Detail) |
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Our Lady of Tinos: St. Isidoros |
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Our Lady of Tinos: St. Isidoros (Closeup) |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Icon of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople (398-407) |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Fountain inside the yard |
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Our Lady of Tinos: Leaving the Church |
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