Sikinos Church of Panagia Pantanassa

Location: Chora

The most famous church of Sikinos is definitely that of Panagia Pantanassa. Located centrally in the square of Kastro (the island’s Chora), Panagia Pantanassa is a lovely temple with an impressive blue dome - a usual decorative element in most Cycladic churches. The interior hides a magnificent baroque wooden temple that is skillfully crafted, while there are many beautiful late-Byzantine icons of the Cretan school of hagiography.

The most outstanding item in the church is the holy icon of Panagia Pantanassa. According to the local legend, a vicar would see the same dream many nights in a row: that a woman would invite him to visit the spot “Gialista” in the southern part of Sikinos. After he was convinced by the vision, the man went there and discovered the icon of the Virgin Mary, which was transported at the church of Saint John. Every day, however, the icon would be lost and found at the church of Timios Stavros (the current temple of Panagia Pantanassa), therefore the islanders decided to move it there permanently and named the temple after the Holy Mary in her honor.