Panagia Myrtidiotissa, venerated on the island of Kythera

Marian devotion of Cythera (Ionian Islands)

According to the tradition of Citera, the icon of the Panagia Myrtidiottissa was found by a pastor in a place covered with myrtle, which is why the Virgin receives this name ("from the myrtidiottissa"). The local legend speaks of a miraculous discovery and of the subsequent construction of a sanctuary in the place where the image appeared, which became a focus of pilgrimage for the inhabitants of the island and for the emigrad cytherans.

Main data

Origin and history

According to the tradition of Citera, the icon of the Panagia Myrtidiottissa was found by a pastor in a place covered with myrtle, which is why the Virgin receives this name ("from the myrtidiottissa"). The local legend speaks of a miraculous discovery and of the subsequent construction of a sanctuary in the place where the image appeared, which became a focus of pilgrimage for the inhabitants of the island and for the emigrad cytherans.

As for the documented historythe current tourist and historical sources confirm the existence of the Monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa on the western coast of Citera, built near the sea in a forest area, especially of pine trees. No precise dates of foundation or of the writing of the tradition of finding are offered; it is only clear that the monastery and its icon have over time been consolidated as the main religious center of the island, explicitly identified as "symbol of the Orthodox religion of thousands of cytherans." There is no detailed chronology or specific old documents on the erection of the first of their temples in the consulted sources.

The image and the sanctuary

La image venerada es un Orthodox icon of the Virgin, constantly referred to as "icon of the Virgin Mirtidiotisa" or "icon of the Panagia Myrtidiotissa." The available sources present it as a miraculous icon found among the looks and later moved to the monastery. It does not contain a precise technical description of the material (wood, pictorial technique, dimensions) or a detailed description of its iconography (exact type of Marian representation, scenes or secondary figures).

El sanctuary es el Monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissalocated in the western area of Citera, near the sea and surrounded by a natural environment with pine trees. It is described as a place of great peace and tranquility, with a temple that works as spiritual center of the island of Citera, dedicated to the Panagia Myrtidiottissa, considered patron of the place. The sources call it "monastery" and "iconic religious place" of Citera, but do not mention that it has the title of a minor basilica or that it is erected as a national sanctuary; there is also no specific designation as a diocesan sanctuary in the accessible documents.

Sponsorship and coronation

Panagia Myrtidiotissa es reconociada como Patron of the island of Citera (Kýthira). The tourist and devotional descriptions emphasize that the icon constitutes the religious symbol of the inhabitants of the island and the Cytheran diaspora in various countries.

As for a canonical coronation, it is an advocation of the field Greek Orthodoxand in the sources consulted (information of the monastery, official portals of tourism and historical reviews) does not contain a documented canonical coronation according to the use of the Catholic Church.

Party and devotion

La main party de Panagia Myrtidiótissa se celebra el September 24the date on which a great pilgrimage and meeting of faithful takes place in the monastery, which is filled with devotees from all over the island and from other places. The sources insist on the importance of this sanctuary as place of central pilgrimage de Citera, with a significant influx of both residents and migrants returning to participate in the celebrations. No official influx figures are provided, but the feast is considered one of the island's main religious celebrations.

La devoción se caracteriza por: – La Icon veneration como milagroso y protector de la isla. – La procession and pilgrimage al monasterio, especialmente en la fiesta de septiembre. – El vínculo afectivo de los citeranos de la diáspora, que mantienen la devoción allí donde se han establecido, llevando consigo la imagen de la Panagia Myrtidiótissa como signo de identidad espiritual.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted do not contain a specific or historical relationship between devotion to Panagia Myrtidiostissa and the prayer of the Rosarysince it is an advocation of the Orthodox Church, where Marian prayer forms focus more on the use of the prayer of Jesus, the litany and hymns like the Akathistos, and the veneration of icons.

However, from a Catholic perspective, the Rosary can accompany devotion to Panagia Myrtidiottissa as a way of to meditate on the mysteries of Christ with Maryin spiritual communion with the Christians who venerate this icon. The deeply Christological character of mariology, both in the East and in the West, allows the prayer of the Rosary to be lived as a bridge of prayer: while the icon looks to the presence of the Mother of God in the history of salvation, the Rosary helps to contemplate those same mysteries, linking Catholic piety to the ancient Marian tradition of Citera Christians.