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Church of Panagia Portaitissa
The church of Panagia Portaitissa is considered one of the most beautiful churches in the Aegean. Located below the Venetian Castle, it is also the religious center of the island and an important place of worship. This beautiful church was built in the 18th century by an Athonian monk, named Anthimos at the foot of the castle. Despite the fact that he was half blind, he also founded several other churches on the islands of south Aegean. The construction lasted nine years and during that time many miracles are said to have happened according to religious tradition.
The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the Iberian Monastery of Mount Athos and celebrates on August 15. That day a traditional festival takes place on Astypalea with live music and local dances. The icon of Panagia Portaitissa is a copy of the icon from the Holy Monastery of Iviron in Mount Athos. After the construction of the church, St. Anthimos visited Mount Athos to illustrate some icons. He asked an hagiographer to make a copy of Panagia Portaitissa, but the old man failed to complete it, so St. Anthimos placed the copy on the original icon and miraculously the day after, the copy was completed.
It is worth noticing the wooden carved iconostasis, the wooden Chancel Table as well as the silver-plated icon of the Virgin. Right next to the church, there is an interesting Ecclesiastical Museum. with a small collection of old icons and other rare religious relics, including a wooden epitaph of the 17th century, a 15th century icon of Christ and rare heirlooms of unique craftmanship.