25/04/2025
Panagia Argokoiliotissa is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Naxos. According to tradition, a blind shepherd saw visions of the Virgin Mary and was led to a hidden cave, where he discovered her icon in 1836. The shepherd is said to have regained his sight, and many consider the icon miraculous.
The name “Argokoiliotissa” comes from the Greek words for “slow” (argó) and “hollow” (koíli), referencing the soft, hidden cave where the icon was found after visions experienced by a blind shepherd.
Every year, hundreds of people from across the island make this journey on foot as a sign of faith, gratitude, and connection. Many make the journey as a vow by walking barefoot in silence, carrying icons, or sleeping near the church the night before.
