{"id":21769,"date":"2012-08-19T13:36:42","date_gmt":"2012-08-19T11:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.ikaria.ch\/?page_id=21769"},"modified":"2024-04-12T17:54:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T15:54:44","slug":"august-15th-tis-panagias-the-feast-of-the-all-holy-mother-of-god","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ursula.ikaria.ch\/en\/august-15th-tis-panagias-the-feast-of-the-all-holy-mother-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"August 15th “Tis Panagias”, the feast of the All Holy Mother of God"},"content":{"rendered":"
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August 15th is a milestone in the Greek year. A kind of turning point. It is the feast of Panagia, the All-Holy Mother of God, the most important festival in the Greek Orthodox calendar after Easter. Strictly speaking, it is “Assumption of Mary” (Greek: K\u03bf\u03b9\u03bc\u03b7\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c4\u03bf\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5) and in all churches and chapels dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, solemn masses and liturgical ceremonies followed by exuberant dance festivals\/panigyria<\/a> take place.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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In Ikaria there are 11 different panigyria<\/a> on this day. It is not always the largest churches where the biggest celebrations take place; often inconspicuous, small St. Mary’s churches celebrate their Panigyri, their patron saint, with great celebration.<\/p>\n<\/div>

The largest and most famous Panigyri in Ikaria takes place in Langada in Raches. Every year up to 5,000 (!) Greeks and more flock to the small mountain oasis of Langada to celebrate with live music, baked goat, local wine and ikariotic dancing until the early hours of the next day.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Our Lady has many names:<\/p>\n

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  • Panagia or affectionately also Panagitsa (diminutive) = All Saints<\/li>\n
  • Theotokou = Mother of God<\/li>\n
  • Despoina = mistress, mistress<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>

    It is the name day of Maria, Marios, Panagiota, Panagiotis and Despina. Since name days are the important celebrations in the life of the Greeks and are celebrated extensively as an “open house festival”, in contrast to birthdays, which only play a role for small children, every family has at least one The whole of Greece is celebrating on this day.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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