The Assumption of the Virgin (15 August) is one of the most important holidays of the Orthodox Church and is celebrated with splendor throughout Greece. The ERT Archive digitized and offers you the documentary tribute to the sacred places of worship of the Virgin Mary in the Cycladic islands:
This is the second part of the documentary, which is dedicated to the sacred places of worship of Panagia in the Cycladic islands and presents monuments of Byzantine art from the 4th to the 19th century.
The trek starts from Sifnos with 365 churches. First stop is Panagia Chrysopigi, located in Faros Bay, at the small Petalos cape. Followed by tours of the monastery of Panagia tou Vounou, in the Holy Church of Panagia of Ouranofora, but also in the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Virgin in the historic village of Kastro. Particularly impressive is the monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa, with Byzantine icons, which is built on the steep rocks of Amorgos.
In the center of Parikia in Paros, the Cathedral of Panagia Ekatontapyliani dominates. It is the most beautiful early Christian church in Greece and an excellent example of an early Christian monument of the 4th century. The last stop of the trek is the metropolis of the Cyclades, Naxos. Inside the harbor, between the ships and the masts, the small church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa stands out, while high in the country, in the castle, the Holy Church of Panagia Pantanassa.
In the picturesque village of Apeiranthos we find the metropolitan church of the 18th century Panagia Aperathitissa. In Halki, the Holy Church of Panagia Protothroni, which is one of the most important Byzantine monuments of the island, as well as Panagia Drosiani, excellent early Christian monument of the 5th - 7th century. The pilgrimage concludes with the presentation of the Holy Church of Panagia Filotitissa, in the village of Filoti, which is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin.
Accompanied by the narration of Dimitris Kontogiannis, the viewer knows the sites of the religious buildings and is informed about their architectural type, their story, the style of the hagiographies or sacred images they guard. The testimonies of priests, residents and experts, such as Aperathitis history professor Vassilis Sfyroera for the church of Aperathitissa in Naxos, contribute to the enrichment of information.
They are introduced, also, snapshots from the celebrations and festivities of the Fifteenth of August, with special reference to the custom of the epitaph of the Virgin Mary in the village of Filoti in Naxos. Hymns of the Virgin are heard during the broadcast by the Byzantine choir of Lykourgos Angelopoulos.
Direction: Panos Angelopoulos
Narration: Dimitris Kontogiannis
Research-Texts: Rosanna Lada
Year of production: 2000
Pension
Editorial team of ert.gr