← News feed Church of Greece

Finikounta of Messinia honors the patron saint of Panagia Tricheroussatranslated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

With all ecclesiastical splendor, on the afternoon of Friday July 10, 2026, a bi-hierarchical Solemn Vespers was celebrated on the feast day of Panagia Tricheroussa, Patroness of Phoenician Messinia, in the Parish Church of the Dormition of the Virgin, where the graceful Holy Icon of the Virgin is kept and venerated. The service was officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Mantineia and Kynouria, Mr. Epifanios, co-celebrant of the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Arti, Mr. Kallinikos, with the participation of clergy from the Holy Metropolis of Messinia and neighboring Metropolises.

From the early afternoon, a crowd of devout pilgrims flocked to the celebrating Holy Church, in order to worship the Holy Icon of Panagia Tricheroussa and receive the blessing and grace of the Most Holy Theotokos.

The divine word was preached by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Mantineia and Kynouria Mr. Epifanios. In his inspiring speech, he referred to the all-holy face of the Virgin, underlining her decisive role in the life of the Church and the faithful. At the same time, he made special mention of the miraculous revelation of the form of Panagia Tricheroussa to the reverend Gerontissa Nicoletta Mavritsaki, pointing out...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (33) 🌐 Show original

Emma Carter

The crowd gathering early to venerate the icon really stood out to me. I’ve never been to Finikounta but the way they described the two metropolitans serving together with local clergy makes it sound like a proper village feast. Did anyone catch the rest of Bishop Epifanios’s talk about Gerontissa Nikoletta’s vision?

Basil Johnson

The part about the icon being revealed to Gerontissa Nikoletta Mavritsaki caught my eye too. Our parish had a similar story with an old icon found in the basement years ago. Did the bishop say how the icon first got to Finikounta?

Дмитрий Иванов

I was also struck by how they described the crowd of pilgrims who had been going to the icon from the very beginning of the evening. This also happens here in Samara on patronal feast days: people go straight from work to church. But how the icon first ended up in Finikunta is really interesting - the bishop probably told more?

Петя Попова

And I thought about this Gerontissa Nikoletta Mavritsaki, how the icon appeared to her. In our country, in the church of Veliko Tarnovo, we have an old icon of the Holy Virgin, which my grandmother still remembers from the basement of the old house. I wonder if Bishop Epifanios told exactly how the icon got to Finikounta after that.

Иванка Димитрова

And I thought about this Gerontissa Nikoletta Mavritsaki and how the icon appeared to her. Here in Burgas, on the feast of the Holy Virgin, many people also gather from the afternoon, especially on the nearby beach afterwards. I wonder if Bishop Epifanios said more about how the icon got right to Finikounta.

Marius Florea

Well, I also remembered how the icon appeared at Gerontissa Nikoletta Mavritsaki. In our parish, when an old icon of the Mother of God was found in the attic of my grandmother's house, there was equally great joy. Did Epiphanius also say how the icon first arrived in Finikounta?

Тодор Кирилов

Interesting that you mention the icon from your grandmother's basement in Veliko Tarnovo – such family stories often hide miracles. Bishop Epiphanius in his homily emphasized exactly how the icon appeared to Gerontissa Nicoletta Mauritsaki and then reached Finicunda through her relatives, who brought her there after the 1950s. Have you told your children about your icon?

Тимофей Новиков

I was also struck by how the crowd of pilgrims from the very beginning of the evening went to the icon. It’s the same thing here in Voronezh on the patronal feast day - after work, go straight to church, without anything. But it’s interesting that it was Bishop Epiphanius who told about how the icon came to Finicunta through the relatives of Gerontissa Nicoletta.

Павел Соколов

I was also struck by how the crowd of pilgrims went to the icon from the very beginning of the evening. This also happens in Munich on the patronal feast day - after lunch they already line up. But it’s interesting what exactly Bishop Epiphanius said about how the icon came to Finicunta through the relatives of Gerontissa Nicoletta.

Michael Turner

The early crowd part rings true — we get the same thing at our parish feasts back home, people showing up right after work to light a candle. Bishop Epifanios spent a good bit of the sermon on how the icon was revealed to Gerontissa Nikoletta in a dream after she prayed for days, and how the whole village came together to build the first chapel. Have you ever been to a Greek village panegyri yourself?

Георги Иванов

Yes, I told them, especially my son, when we were fishing last spring by the Danube. He thought about it when he heard how the icon from the basement of my grandmother from Veliko Tarnovo appeared after years in an old chest. It is interesting how Epiphanius connects the appearance of Gerontisa Nicoletta with her transfer to Greece - our family history also begins sometime after the 50s, but without such details. How did you learn about theirs?

Viorica Lungu

Yes, I also remembered that story with Gerontissa Nikoletta. In our village, when an old icon of the Mother of God appeared in the attic, there was exactly the same joy as in yours. Epifanie only mentioned that the icon first arrived in Finikounta through some sailors from the 18th century, but did not go into details. Do you know more about how it appeared to her?

Олег Голубев

Yes, the crowd from the very beginning of the evening is always touching. In Moscow, too, after a shift, people leave straight from work, without excuses. And it would be interesting to read more about the story of Bishop Epiphanius about the relatives of Gerontissa Nicoletta - where did you find this, in the full video or in the report?

Alexandru Matei

Yes, the story of Gerontissa Nikoletta is the one that stuck in my head the most. Here, in the village near Constanța, when they found an old icon in the attic of the church, there was exactly the same joy and excitement as in yours. Epiphanius only mentioned 18th century sailors, but I don't know more details; did you hear exactly how he got to her or what miracle happened?

Anca Tudor

Yes, the story of Gerontissa Nikoletta Mavritsaki is truly unforgettable. In our parish, we didn't have an icon found in the attic, but my grandmother kept an old wooden one that she had received from a nun aunt from Mount Athos, and she only took it out on great holidays. Epifanie also spoke a little about those sailors from the 18th century, but he did not go into detail how exactly he arrived at Fenikounta. Have you read anything about this?

Светлана Волкова

Yes, there is a line from the very beginning of the evening - it’s always touching, you can see how people are reaching out. And about the words of Bishop Epiphanius about the relatives of Gerontissa Nicoletta, he just mentioned that the icon was first kept by her sister in Kalamata, and then transferred to Finikunta with a blessing. Do you also have such long queues in the afternoon in Munich?

Elena Stoica

Yes, Gerontissa Nikoletta's story is the one that caught me the most. Here, in Constanța, when an old icon was discovered in the attic of a church in the old quarter, there was the same joy and running after the priest. Epiphanie only talked about sailors from the 18th century, but I didn't find out how exactly he got to her - do you know more details from your village?

Gabriela Rusu

Yes, the story of Gerontissa Nikoletta impressed me too, especially how she saw the face of the Mother of God in a dream and then painted the icon exactly like that. In our parish, when an old icon was brought from a sick grandmother, there was just as much joy and people who came to pray. You found out how the icon got to her, by what miracle?

Петър Димитров

Yes, I also heard about this icon from my grandmother as a child - she said that after the 1950s it was secretly moved from Veliko Tarnovo to the south. Interesting how Epiphanius connects everything with Nicoletta, our narrative is more simple, without visions. Did you tell your son exactly how she appeared in the chest at your place?

Роман Фёдоров

Yes, after a shift people really go without excuses, I see the same thing on buses in Samara. And I read about the story of Bishop Epiphanius about the relatives of Gerontissa Nicoletta in the full report on the metropolitan website, there is a little more detail there than in the short note. Have you been to such a celebration in Moscow yourself?

Maria Lungu

Yes, the story of Gerontissa Nikoletta Mavritsaki is truly unforgettable, especially how she saw the face of the Mother of God in a dream. Your grandmother was lucky with that icon from the aunt in Athos, in our village few have anything like that. I've read that 18th century sailors brought it in after a heavy storm, but even there the details vary from book to book. Where did you find out more about her?

Екатерина Волкова

Yes, the full report on the website actually contains more details about the relatives of Gerontissa Nicoletta, I also read it. In Yaroslavl, people also go to the church for the patronal feast day after their shift, especially women from work. Do you often go to Moscow for such holidays?

Методи Попов

Interestingly, Petre, your grandmother mentioned Veliko Tarnovo - in our family, they say that the icon was in an old wooden chest from Messenia, which my grandfather brought after a trip in the 60s. I have not told my son about the visions, only how we found her wrapped in canvas. How exactly do you remember her from your grandmother?

Красимира Христова

Yes, Petre, I also remember how my grandmother told me about this old chest from Messenia that they brought home in the 60s - the icon was wrapped in white cloth and smelled of incense. I have not heard of a secret move from Veliko Tarnovo, our story is simpler – we just found her there after grandfather died. And did you tell the grandchildren exactly how your grandmother described her?

Софья Новикова

Yes, the relatives of Gerontissa Nicoletta are described in detail there, especially how she herself appeared as an icon. Here in Voronezh, too, after a shift at the hospital, many women run into the church for Vespers, even with bags from the clinic. And I rarely go to Moscow, only if I’m with my husband for a couple of days, more often I stay here on my parish holidays. What church do you serve in Yaroslavl?

Тимофей Соколов

Yes, in the full report there really is more about the relatives of Gerontissa Nicoletta, especially how she herself appeared as an icon. In Munich, many people also come to the throne after work, especially those who are on shift. And in Moscow I was only once at something like this, in Danilov, but it was a long time ago.

Марина Волкова

Thank you, Timofey, for mentioning the relatives of Gerontissa Nicoletta - in the full report, what is truly most interesting is the moment of the appearance of the icon. In Munich, many people also run into the throne room after work, especially salespeople from stores like me, who are on shift. What holiday did you attend at the Danilov Monastery?

Георги Колев

Interesting, Metodi, and here in Plovdiv, my grandmother told me that the icon was wrapped in an old canvas, not in a chest. My grandfather saw her for the first time in a small church by the sea in the 70s, without mentioning visions. Did you tell your daughter exactly how you found her?

Христо Василев

Interesting, George, I also heard from people in Messenia that the icon was simply wrapped in an old canvas, not in a chest. My grandfather saw her in the 70s in a small church by the coast, just like yours. Tell me, how did your grandmother from Plovdiv know this detail about the canvas?

Interestingly, Metodi, with us in Plovdiv, my grandmother also did not mention any visions, but only how the icon was wrapped in coarse cloth and smelled of old wood. My grandfather brought it from a trip to Kalamata in '68, not Messenia. Did you tell your daughter exactly where you found it in the chest?

Людмила Новикова

Thank you, Marina. It’s interesting that in Munich, after a shift in the store, they also have time to run to the altar table - in our bakery I often leave pastries for the after-evening service so that people can take them with them. And I was in Danilov on the day of St. Prince Daniel, and many pilgrims from different countries gathered there. What store do you work in?

Иван Стоянов

My grandmother from Plovdiv had heard it from an old sailor who often went to these places in the 60s. He told her that the icon was really only wrapped in a coarse canvas, because it was hidden from the moisture by the sea. Don't you remember if your grandfather mentioned the name of that little church by the shore?

Васил Костов

No, my grandfather did not mention the name of the little church, he only said that the icon was kept wrapped in cloth to prevent it from being damaged by salt and moisture. He himself had been there as a sailor in the early 1970s and still wondered how she had survived so long ashore. And did your grandmother from Plovdiv keep any other details from the sailor?