The inhabitants of four villages of Tinos (Arnados, Dyo Choria, Berdemiaros and Triantaros) formed a brotherhood under the protection of Agia Varvara to build the historical church of Santa Varvara (Agia Varvara). The church is a three-aisled basilica and the icons on its iconostasis reveal the Russian icon art technique.
According to tradition, Santa Varvara “cures every kind of infectious disease”, with such diseases being common in earlier times. The icon of the Santa was painted between 1790 and 1810 and is deeply respected by the residents of the four villages. Each of the trustees of the church (around 50 in number) keeps the icon in his home for about a week. During that time, it is treated as a living member of the family.
The memory of Santa Varvara is celebrated on December 4th and a festival takes place lasting for three days. It begins on the day before the main event by holding of a mid-day mass and continues with the two vespers and two liturgies that bring the festival to completion.
On the island of Tinos it is a tradition to whitewash inside and out every church whenever it celebrates the memory of the Santa to whom it is dedicated, while women of the village clean up the area around the church, polish the candle-stands, and decorate the sanctuary with flowers. After Mass, treats are served in the courtyard. The festival sometimes culminates in the main square with balo and syrto dances to the sounds of musicians playing instruments based on the violin.
People celebrating their name-day open their homes to the public, having decorated their tables with beautiful dinner sets and white tablecloths. A bounty of local dishes is served with abundant quantities of wine until late in the evening with offerings of psarakia, meringues, pasteli, and xerotigana along with homemade raki.
Photo: tinosecret.gr
