Panagia Ekatontapiliani, or the Church of Our Lady of Stovratna, is a famous temple complex in the town of Parikia, on the island of Paros. The church is located near the city harbour and it is perhaps one of the most interesting and popular attractions in Parikia. The Church of Our Lady of Stovratna is also one of the oldest churches in modern Greece, as well as an important historical and architectural monument.
A long tradition says that it was the wish of Saint Helena, who came here during her journey to the Holy Land in search of the relics of the Passion of Christ, to establish a temple on the island if her quest was successful. Helen's son, the Roman Emperor Constantine I the Great, fulfilled his mother's will and erected a three-nave basilica on the island, consecrated in honour of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
It is believed that this church was subsequently partially destroyed (presumably as a result of fire) and restored in the 6th century during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I thanks to a student of Isidore of Miletus, who built the famous St Sophia in Constantinople - a talented architect Ignatius. In the following centuries a number of changes and additions were made before, harmoniously combining elements of the early Christian, Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods, Panagia Ekatontapiliani turned into the impressive ensemble that we see today, consisting of the main church of the Virgin Mary (including the chapels of Agios Anagyros, Agios Filippos and Osia Theoctisti), the chapels of Agios Nikolaos, Agios Theodosia and Agios Dimitrios, the baptistery and the surrounding massive building, which houses various administrative and household offices. The main relic of Panagia Ekatontapiliani is the miracle-working icon of the Virgin Mary, which attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the world every year.
The main relic of Panagia Ekatontapiliani is the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary.
