The church of the Virgin Mary was founded in 1823. It was built at the point where the icon of the Annunciation was found, according to the vision of St. Pelagia.
It is a brilliant building made of white marble, which is the first remarkable architectural monument of the liberated Greek nation. When you enter the church from the main gate, you will see the Iconostasis on the left. There you will see the miraculous icon of the Virgin, which is full of offerings from believers. Near the central church there is the Chapel of Evreseos (=discovery), which is dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi. The church is built on the foundations of an early Christian church, which was dedicated to St. John. In the same place there was the ancient temple of Dionysus.
Near the entrance of the church of Evreseos you will see the Mausoleum of "Elli". This is the cruiser which was torpedoed in the port of Tinos in 1940. The bones of the first victims of the Second World War as well as a part of the torpedo and items from the ship are kept in the mausoleum.
The outer courtyard of the church is paved with mosaic of outstanding folk art and was built in 1833. The outbuildings of the church host: the Museum of Tinian Artists, the Art Gallery, the exhibition of the sacred relics, the sacristy and the files of the institution of the Annunciation.
In Tinos it does not matter if you are a Catholic or an Orthodox; all share a deep love for Virgin Mary. The Orthodox celebrate Virgin Mary on March 25 and mid-August and the Catholics on the first Sunday of May and mid-August as well.
