Kythira Monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa

Location: Limnaria

The Monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa is the largest and most prominent in Kythira. It is located inside the Holy Monastery of Myrtidia and houses a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. The name “Myrtidiotissa” was given because the icon was found in an area full of myrtle trees.

The image was not always as it is today. The wooden frame was placed later, while the golden garment was created in 1837. Only the faces can be distinguished, even though their features can no longer be discerned.

According to tradition, centuries ago, on September 24th - 40 days after the Dormition of the Virgin Mary - Mary herself (or an angel according to some) was presented in a shepherd and told him to look for the icon, which laid there for several years, in a spot where he had his sheep. Full of awe, the man went there and, indeed, under a myrtle tree, he saw the icon of the mother of Jesus. He took it to the nearby village of Kalokairines, placed it in his home, and told his friends and family.
When he woke up the next day, he quickly realized the icon had gone missing. His first thought was that someone got in and stole it. After some time and while overwhelmed with sadness, he decided to take his sheep and go to the place where he had discovered the icon. To his surprise, the icon was situated on the branches of a myrtle at the exact same spot. The story repeated itself. After the second time, the shepherd understood that the Virgin Mary’s will was for the icon to stay at the place where it was.
For that reason, a small church was built there and was named Myrtidiotissa. The building gradually scaled up and many miracles are said to have happened there. Nowadays, it is called the old Katholikon and, in addition to the icon of Mary, it hosts many vows of visitors, some smaller icons and huge candles.

The procession of the miraculous icon from Myrtidia to Chora on the Feast of Orthodoxy is the leading religious custom of the islander. The procession lasts 15 days and passes through most villages.
The church is celebrated on September 24th, the date of the holy icon’s discovery.

A Miracle of Myrtidiotissa

A descendant of the shepherd named Theodoros Koumprianos lived in the village of Kousoumari in the 16th century. He was a paralyzed man but he truly and deeply believed that the Virgin Mary would heal him. Annually, on September 24th, he sent family members to light a candle in Her grace for him, but nothing ever changed. One year, he decided that he would go and worship Her himself. Out of nowhere during the vigil, a loud noise was heard from the sea. People started running out of the church because they believed pirates were attacking them. Theodoros, on the other hand, remained inside the church and asked the Virgin Mary for help. Suddenly, he heard a voice telling him to get up and run; and so he did! He ran until he reached his relatives who were thrilled with the miracle.