Sacred Pilgrimage Panagia Argokoiliotissa

At a beautiful slope at the Argokoili location, near the village of Koronos of mountainous Naxos, is one of the most important pilgrimages of the island of Naxos, Panagia Argokoiliotissa.

Its history is related to the finding, in 1836, of the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary and a second one, of Zoodochos Pigi (Life Giving Source), near a small cave that should serve as an observatory during the Byzantine period and it was shaped with carved steps. At the area they erected initially a temporary small cell for keeping the icons and later, in 1851, a church of the Virgin Mary. Near it, in 1962, at the location where the icons were found, they constructed the small church of Agia Anna, which incorporated the well that leads to the cave. Somewhat higher, they founded in 1997 a new, majestic church, which is the largest in the Cyclades. There are cell complexes in the area to accommodate the pilgrims.

The miraculous icon that is kept at the monastery is very small in dimensions. Constructed by candle-mastic and depicts the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary on the one side and the Baptism of Jesus on the other.

A brilliant celebration takes place on Bright Friday, day of Zoodochos Pigi, as well as on the 15th of August.