The Dormition of the Virgin Mary on the Island of Tinos: A ...

94 JOURNAL OF RELIGIOUS HISTORY
this well, pilgrims regard <strong>the</strong> water as sacred. Accordingly, small or bigger
bottles <strong>of</strong> this precious water are taken home by pilgrims from all over <strong>the</strong>
world to keep at home as a talisman.
<strong>The</strong> sanctuary is a great complex. “<strong>The</strong> Holy Foundation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Euangelistria
<strong>of</strong> Tinos,” is a multifaceted institution <strong>of</strong> national and international dimensions,
being <strong>the</strong> island’s most important source <strong>of</strong> income. <strong>The</strong> different parts
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sanctuary, such as doors and benches, are gifts, and <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
donors are written on nameplates affixed to <strong>the</strong> dedications. Among <strong>the</strong> most
famous gifts given as tokens <strong>of</strong> gratitude, is <strong>the</strong> marble fountain donated by a
Muslim <strong>of</strong>ficial who was cured <strong>of</strong> syphilis. Much <strong>of</strong> what is given to <strong>the</strong> church
as <strong>of</strong>ferings is retained, but some items are sold: most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> jewellery is
auctioned in A<strong>the</strong>ns, and gifts like livestock and olive oil are sold. <strong>The</strong> Church
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Annunciation as an organization is a powerful force in local politics, a
philanthropic institution that controls a vast amount <strong>of</strong> wealth. It is an organization
with considerable money, and it is an organization <strong>of</strong> priests. Generally,
local people have an ambivalent attitude towards <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Annunciation:
it is a source <strong>of</strong> pride but is also considered to be “too rich.” People
working in <strong>the</strong> church’s <strong>of</strong>fice emphasize that <strong>the</strong> church is not engaged in
“business”; however, after <strong>the</strong> festival, along with <strong>the</strong> priests, <strong>the</strong>y spend
several hours counting <strong>the</strong> money <strong>the</strong> pilgrims have left. This money is an
important resource for <strong>the</strong> prosperity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island. So I would say that <strong>the</strong>
health business on modern Tinos is illustrated in many ways, for example, by
<strong>the</strong> church sending talismans all over <strong>the</strong> world on request from people who are
not able to go to Tinos as pilgrims.
<strong>The</strong> miraculous holy icon on Tinos is attributed to <strong>the</strong> apostle and evangelist,
Luke, who is believed to have painted it during <strong>Mary</strong>’s lifetime, with her as a
living model. It is, <strong>the</strong>refore, tied to <strong>the</strong> very origins <strong>of</strong> Christianity. It shows
Gabriel appearing to <strong>Mary</strong> with <strong>the</strong> announcement <strong>of</strong> Christ’s birth — <strong>the</strong> icon
depicts an announcement <strong>of</strong> fertility. Today, <strong>the</strong> icon is covered with <strong>of</strong>ferings
<strong>of</strong> gold and precious stones, and it is not possible to see what it portrays.
Although <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ferings have been dedicated since <strong>the</strong> icon was found and most
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> jewellery is auctioned as already mentioned, <strong>the</strong>re are different stories
about <strong>the</strong> jewellery. According to some <strong>of</strong> my A<strong>the</strong>nian informants, “<strong>the</strong> king’s
family bestowed all <strong>the</strong> gold and precious stones that cover <strong>the</strong> icon, when King
Paul became ill.” 11 <strong>The</strong> miracles worked by <strong>the</strong> holy icon — some more famous
than o<strong>the</strong>rs — have made Tinos a centre <strong>of</strong> Pan-Orthodox worship. 12
“A Kilometre on my Knees for <strong>Mary</strong>”
Pilgrims visit Tinos all year; however, <strong>the</strong> enormous crowd <strong>of</strong> devotees
increases dramatically during <strong>the</strong> days around <strong>the</strong> August festival, particularly
11. See also E. J. Håland, “From Water in Greek Religion, Ancient and Modern, to <strong>the</strong> Wider
Mediterranean and Beyond,” Comparative Civilizations Review 56, no. 1 (2007): 56–75. According
to Foskolos, Perigraphē tēs Eureseōs tēs Thaumatourgou Agias Eikonas tēs Euangelistrias stēn
Tēno kata to etos 1823, much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> precious <strong>of</strong>ferings have come from <strong>the</strong> royal family.
12. Cf. also Foskolos, Perigraphē tēs Eureseōs tēs Thaumatourgou Agias Eikonas tēs Euangelistrias
stēn Tēno kata to etos 1823, for <strong>the</strong> most famous miracles.
© 2012 <strong>The</strong> Author
Journal <strong>of</strong> Religious History © 2012 Religious History Association