Church of the Virgin Mary

The Church of Panagia ("Virgin Mary") is the best known church on the island of Folegandros. It is located in a fabulous position, above the Chora, and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the island and the sea that surrounds it.

The history of the Church of the Virgin Mary

This church is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and is said to have been built on the ruins of an ancient temple. In fact, the marble parts of this temple have been used as building material for the church and visitors to today can still admire the ancient inscriptions and the bases of some statues in the church courtyard.
The exact year of construction of the church is unclear. However, there is a marble sign that states the restoration carried out in 1687 and the completion of the construction in 1821, or what we can admire today.

Architecture of the Church of the Virgin Mary

The architecture of the church is traditional from the Cyclades and the exterior is totally white, in a typically Greek style. Inside the basilica has a single nave with many domes and a tall bell tower that stands in all its majesty. In addition to the type of construction that already leaves you speechless, it also has frescoes of great value, a marble throne for the archbishop and a screen with marble icons.

Small curiosities!

A small curiosity that we would like to let you know is that in the past the church was the katholikon of a female monastery and belonged to a convent. For those who were wondering, the katholikon is nothing more than the main church of the Greek Orthodox monasteries.
Furthermore, according to an ancient custom of Folegandros, the icon is transported to all the houses of the island during Easter. So if you happen to be on the island during the Easter period, you could drop by Chora to attend this traditional event.

The legend of the Church of the Virgin Mary

The silver icon of the Virgin Mary inside the church is believed to be miraculous. Legend has it that in 1790, 18 Algerian pirate boats were about to go ashore. The desperate inhabitants of Folegandros went to church to pray for their life to the Virgin Mary when the strong north wind blew and sank all the pirate boats, thus freeing them from the incursions of the latter. Since then, locals consider the Virgin Mary the protector of their island.

How do you reach the church of the Virgin Mary?

To get to the pretty church of Panagia (of the Virgin Mary) there is a zigzag stone path that starts from Pounda Square in the Chora and goes up to the church: after about 15 minutes of walking you will find yourself in front of this splendid building .
If you like typical Cycladic style buildings, legends and ancient history ... you can't miss the Church of Panagia!