PEOPLE WAITING TO SEE THE ICON, WHICH IS BROUGHT OUT OF THE VIRGIN MARY CHURCH AND CARRIED IN PROCESSION: ICON CARRIED OVER LINE OF SICK PEOPLE: "PARALYSED" BOY WALKS.




Initials RM/S/MGT/JM



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Background: A HOLY ICON, SAID TO HAVE MIRACULOUS HEALING POWERS, WAS CARRIED IN PROCESSION ON THE TINY GREEK ISLAND OF TINOS YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) AFTER ABOUT 40,000 PEOPLE HAVE MADE A PILGRIMAGE THERE FOR THE ANNUAL FEAST OF THE VIRGIN MARY. THEY WERE THERE TO WORSHIP THE ICON OF THE VIRGIN MARY, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE ABOUT 900 YEARS OLD.

THE HOLY ICON OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY WAS FOUND IN 1882 IN A GROTTO ON THE ISLAND OF TINOS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE SOUTH EAST ISLANDS OF THE AEGEAN. IT'S SAID TO HAVE BEEN FOUND AFTER AN OLD WOMAN HAD DREAMED OF ITS LOCATION. A SPECIAL CHURCH OF THE VIRGIN MARY WAS BUILT TO HOUSE THE ICON.

EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS FROM ALL OVER GREECE AND OTHERS OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX FAITH GATHER ON THE ISLAND ON THE 15TH OF AUGUST TO WORSHIP THE ICON. MANY SICK PEOPLE AND INVALIDS ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN MIRACULOUSLY CURED BY THE ICON.