crawl

Published by The National Herald, August 15, 2005

Pilgrims make annual crawl on Greek island of miracles

TINOS, Greece (AP) - Religious devotion is an uphill struggle on this Aegean island.

Every year, thousands of the devout crawl up a hill for a kilometer, on their hands and knees in a pilgrimage to a church where a revered icon is believed to have the power to perform miracles.

The annual pilgrimage, which ended Monday on a religious holiday dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is the ultimate test of faith for worshippers with a wish list, such as expectant mothers hoping for a boy or girl, or relatives praying for the recovery of loved ones.

"I did it to pray to do well in my exams," said Jim Christopoulos, 17. Pointing to his scraped knees, he added: "It is very painful, especially here."

This year, special prayers were made for victims of the Cypriot airliner that crashed into a hill north of Athens on Sunday. All 121 people on board were killed.

The crawl is often a family effort. Christopoulos' brother George had already reached the famed Church of the Assumption which houses the icon while their mother, Vassiliki, had to stop for water on the last few steps.

The icon shows the Virgin Mary kneeling in prayer. Many Greeks believe it is capable of performing miracles and curing the sick who visit the main church on Tinos, about 130 kilometers (78 miles) southeast of Athens.

Around 30,000 pilgrims and other visitors file past the icon every Aug. 15 holiday.

While tourists walk, many pilgrims approach on their knees, a few even dragged along the ground by friends. Children occasionally take a ride on the backs of adults.

The ascent can begin as soon as visitors step off the boat from the mainland, but typically starts at the bottom of the street leading to the church.

Jim Christopoulos and his family, from Athens, make the crawl a yearly tradition.

The icon, called "Our Lady of Good Tidings," was unearthed in a field on Tinos in 1822 after a nun claimed she had visions of the Virgin Mary telling her where to find it. Stories of miracles soon followed.

Katherine Kavoudi, a lifelong resident of Tinos, recalled a young girl from the United States who came to Tinos year after year to be blessed.

"She was in a wheelchair and I saw her every year waiting to see the icon," Kavoudi said. "Then one year, after the icon passed her, she got up and walked."

Such stories draw many people to Tinos each year. The island, home to around 10,000 people, nearly triples in population in mid-August with devout day-trippers, according to Desypris Ioulianos, who works for the Municipality of Tinos.

Inside the church hang hundreds of silver and gold "tamata," or offerings, from those wishing to give thanks to the Virgin Mary.

On Monday, the icon was taken from the church and carried through watching crowds.

"The pilgrimage is a very emotional thing," said Athens resident Chris Barbagalas.

"When I was younger, I had a problem with my leg," she said. "I prayed to the Virgin for help and I got better so I came here and crawled up the hill as a way of saying, 'Thank you."'



Volume 7 Number 33 - Tuesday, August 16th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY