Church of the Virgin Mary the Odigitria (Panagiopoula)

The Church of Odigitria (Panagiopoula) is located in Porta Remounda district, and in particular on 7-9 Ionian Parliament St., near the Ionian Parliament. It was built in the early 17th century, probably before 1650, and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary Odigitria and the Saints Cosmas and Damian. At the beginning of the 20th century, a monk of the Holy Monastery of Platytera named Chariton bought Panagiopoula and donated it to his monastery to which it has been a dependency (metochion) ever since. It is a simple building featuring a wooden iconostasis. Its iconostasis is adorned with important icons, such as the icon of Panagiopoula and the icon of Saints Anargyroi. The silver-covered icon of Panagiopoula probably dates back to the 17th century and is adorned with silver and golden offerings. The church celebrates on 23 August. By order of the Protopapas (First priests) issued in 1740 and by order of the General Provieditore, the church could participate in the Epitaph procession taking place on Good Friday.