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Brilliant Theotokos festival in Schinoussa of the Small Cycladestranslated

July 15, 2026 · 1 min read

With special splendor and deep rejoicing, the solemn memory of the Virgin of Akathi and the Virgin of Tricherousa was celebrated again this year on the beautiful island of Schinoussa of the Small Cyclades, with the solemn blessings and paternal wishes of the Reverend Metropolitan of Thira, Amorgos and the Islands, Mr. Amfilochios, where a multitude of residents and visitors came to honor the Most Holy Theotokos. On Monday afternoon, the transfer of the exact copy of the Holy Icon of Panagia Tricheroussa from the Holy Chapel of Agios Filaretos to the Parish Church of the Entrances of the Theotokos - Panagia Akathi took place. In the Holy Church, the official reception of the Holy Icon took place with the participation of the faithful of the island, who reverently paid the due honors to the Mother of God.

During the night of Monday to Tuesday, a Holy Vigil was held, commemorating the arrival of the Holy Icon of Panagia Akathi in Schinoussa in the middle of the 19th century.

The Holy Vigil was dominated by His Eminence Archimandrite Fr Filaretos Thiraios, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Chozoviotissa Amorgou and Vicar of the Parish of the Holy Island of Schinousa. Collaborated with...

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Галина Новикова

It’s good that the Tricherus icon was moved from the chapel of St. Philaret to the main church - probably the whole island had gathered. I wonder how exactly a copy was brought to such a small island in the 19th century. God bless everyone who prayed all night.

Cristina Gheorghiu

Good thing they moved the copy of the Treiherusa icon from the chapel of Saint Filaret directly to the main church of the Entry of the Mother of God. People came a lot, you can see. I also wonder how they would have brought it to this small island 170 years ago, without big ships.

Андрей Смирнов

Yes, the transfer of the Tricherusa icon to the main church is always an event for such a small island, people really gathered. But in the 19th century, a copy was brought - probably on a sailing boat from Amorgos or Syros, then it was a common thing. God bless those who survived all night.

Марина Богданова

Yes, the transfer of the icon to the main church is always a moment when the whole island seems to come to life. And it’s interesting about the 19th century, because back then they could bring people from Amorgos or even Naxos on a caique, and this was a whole event for the locals. God bless those who stood on agrania all night.

Andrei Lungu

Well said, Cristina, that move was done with care and it showed by the crowd that came. I was also wondering how the original icon would have been transported 170 years ago to an islet like this, probably with a small fishing boat and a lot of prayer. Have you ever been to Schinoussa?

Марина Павлова

Yes, that’s right, when the icon was being transported on the caique, the whole shore was gathered, even the children were not sleeping. In Nizhny, we also remember such night services for a long time, especially if you stand together with your grandson. Have you been to Schinus in those years?

Людмила Зайцева

Yes, I remember these night services - when the icon was being transported on a caique, the entire shore really glowed from the lanterns. In Rostov, my sons and I sometimes stood until the morning, and then baked pancakes right at the parish. In what year did you and your grandson go to such a service in Nizhny?

Елена Морозова

Yes, for such a tiny island as Schinuza, any transfer of an icon is already a whole holiday, people drop everything and go. And it’s interesting about the 19th century: they probably really were transported from Amorgos on a sailboat, then everything was decided by sea. God bless those who stood all night, my legs would not have been able to stand it.

Ana Tudor

Yes, Andrei, the move was made with reverence, it was felt in the air. I always think how he would have kept her dry in that fishing boat in bad weather with waves and wind. I haven't been to Schinoussa yet, but I'd love to see that peaceful place, what did you like the most there?

Ion Florea

Yes, that move was well organized, you can see from the pictures that the crowd came together nicely. I say that 170 years ago they also brought it with a fishing boat, as there were no big ferries at that time. Have you ever been fishing in the Cyclades, Cristina?

Alexandru Barbu

Yes, that move really turned out nice, you can see that people came with love. The 1850 fishing boat idea seems logical to me, back then you had no other options. I didn't fish in the Cyclades, Ion, but I went to Amorgos once with my parents and that monastery up on the cliff stuck in my head. What do you usually catch there?

Maria Dobre

Yes, moving by fishing boat from 1850 really makes sense, at that time it was the only practical way. The monastery of Amorgos is impressive, I saw it once on a trip with my family. What kind of fish do you usually catch in the Cyclades, more mackerel or something bigger?

Bogdan Tudor

Yes, that move with the icon clearly shows that it was done with soul. The fishing boat idea from 1850 also seems plausible to me, at that time transportation was simple. I have not fished in the Cyclades, but I once went with the church choir to a monastery in the area and I liked the tranquility there. Did you catch any bigger fish out there?

Илья Павлов

Yes, the transfer of this icon always brings together almost everyone on the island; I myself saw how even those who rarely go to church come. And as for the 19th century, most likely from Amorgos, because the Khozovitissa monastery is nearby, from where many shrines diverged. God bless those who stood all night, especially in such heat.

Florin Stoica

Yes, moving by fishing boat from 1850 really sounds logical, back then you had no other way to get to the island with the icon. The Amorgos monastery stuck in my mind too, I saw it on a truck ride around the area a few years ago. Around the Cyclades, I catch more bream and some mullets, but it depends on the season.

Надежда Семёнова

Yes, for such a tiny place as Schinuza, even a simple transfer of an icon turns into a real event - I just imagined how all the neighbors came out of their houses. And about the 19th century, it’s interesting: I wonder if the Khozovitissa monastery has preserved any records about that boat or about the icon itself? God bless those who stood through the whole night.

Gheorghe Popescu

Yes, that move with the icon turned out really nice, you can see that it was done with piety. The fishing boat idea from 1850 also seems the most likely to me, that's how everything was transported around the islands back then. I haven't fished in the Cyclades myself, but I sang with the church choir at a dedication on Amorgos a few years ago and I really liked the Hozoviotissa monastery.

Yes, moving by fishing boat since 1850 is the most natural thing, otherwise you could not reach the icon. I also really liked the Amorgos monastery when I went with my husband two years ago, that climb to the top is worth every step. Which month do you catch the best bream there, summer or autumn?

Антон Комаров

I remember how in 2017 my grandson and I went to such a service in Nizhny - he was still in the fifth grade then, he lasted all night, only in the morning he dozed off on a bench. In Rostov, did you bake pancakes right at the parish after the night? I wonder what filling it usually comes with?

Radu Nistor

Yes, I also really liked how they moved the icon, that real piety was felt. The fishing boat idea from 1850 holds, at that time you had no other options through the islands. At which church did you sing at Amorgos, at Hozoviotissa? I once went fishing near Naxos and it seemed to me that the place resembles what you are talking about.

Daniela Marin

Yes, moving the icon by boat was the most emotional moment, it was like taking you straight to the 19th century. I sang at Hozoviotissa at the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, in August, when it is full of pilgrims from Amorgos. What did you catch fishing near Naxos, something bigger or just feeling like the sea?

Ana Ciobanu

Yes, and the 1850 fishing boat move seems the most logical to me, back then there were no ferries or good roads between the islands. I once read that the icon came exactly like that, hidden among the nets so that it would not be seen by the Turks. At which church did you sing at Amorgos, at Hozoviotissa? I haven't been there yet, but I'd like to see that monastery stuck to the rock.

Viorica Stan

Yes, moving by fishing boat and hiding in the nets sounds exactly like a story from our country, from the days when the Turks controlled the sea. I sang at the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God at Hozoviotissa, not at that of the Holy Icon, and I remembered how the waves can be seen from below on that steep rock. Have you ever been to the hermitage of Saint Filaret in Schoinoussa, Ana?

Daniela Florea

Yes, moving by fishing boat from 1850 does sound plausible, at that time things got from one island to another without fuss. I was once with my daughter at Hozoviotissa, right at the sanctuary of the Mother of God, and I was impressed by how the monastery hangs on the rock. What hymn did you sing there?

Gabriela Rusu

Yes, moving by fishing boat from 1850 really makes sense, otherwise how would the icon end up on a small island. Amorgos Monastery is beautiful, but that climb took my breath away when I went with my daughter three summers ago. I catch bream better in autumn, the water is clearer and the fish fatter. Did you catch anything good last summer?