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Agia Markella beach is located on the Northwestern side of Chios.
Volissos is the closest village,
42km away from the city center,
6km away from Agia Markella beach,
which is accessible by car, motorcycle or bus
and it takes a little bit more than an hour to reach the beach.
The name of the beach comes from the Monastery of the Saint that suffered persecution and died there.
The beach is sandy with some rocks
and it's characterized by deep and clear water.
It is also characterized by the dark blue colour,
that shows how deep is the water.
It is located northern than Lampsa beach.
The region is the most popular region of Northwestern Chios.
There are no sunbeds and umbrellas but you can play beach games or sunbath.
The length of the beach is 440 m and the width is approximately 20 m.
We are next to Agia Markella beach,
behind me, on the northern side of the beach we can see Psara,
I ***???t know if the lench of the camera shows the island,
on the southern side of the beach we can see south side of Chios , port of Mesta.
Agia Markella feast day is celebrated on July 22.
During that period and summer,
visitors from all over Greece and the Greek communities of the entire world proceed to the temple.
A lot of worshipers walk for 8-10 hours during the period of the celebration to reach the Monastery from the city center.
Around the monastery yard, a lot of rooms are on the worshipers disposal, on the feast celebration day.
We met mr Sotiris Paradeisis, Theologian and Head Teacher of Volissos Highschool, at Agia Markella.
He told us some historical facts about the region.
We are now in the Monastery yard entrance.
We have mr Sotiris Paradeisis with us, Theologian and Head Teacher of Volissos Highschool.
We would like to hear some words about Agia Markella and take a tour at the temple.
We could start our tour from the story of Agia Markella.
Exactly, Saint Markella is an exemplar of heroism and commitment to Christian values.
We could say that She is an exemplar of honesty and virtue,
that touches not only Chian people but people all over the world,
from the times of the martyrdom until nowadays.
Let's talk about the martyrdom.
There are two basic facts about that era.
One is that the era of the martyrdom is during the early Christian years,
after the spread of Christianity in Chios
and shortly after the martyrdom of the Holy Martyr Isidore.
And the second piece of information which considers the holy martyr in the middle of the second millennium in 1500.
She was from here, Volissos.
Her parents in other were pagans,
in other her mother was a devout Christian but her father was an idolater.
At a young age, her mother died and left Markella orphan.
Her father started behaving to Saint Markella not as daughter
and he wanted to have other type of relationship with his daughter.
Afraid of her father, Saint Markella fled to nearby mountains,
abandoned her house, came here, at this place and hid in a bush.
Her father found her, with the help of a local herdsmen, and they set fire to the bush to force her to show.
Markella ran to the sea to escape and followed the path that today leads to the Holy Water.
Her father as an older person could not reach her
and aimed an arrow at her and wounded her.
The point with the cross before the Holy Water.
As she was injured, she prayed to Jesus to hide her.
A rock opened and she was able to hide all of her body inside, but not her head.
Her father realised, very angry, that he couldn't do anything else but decapitate her.
Then he threw the head and her breast into the sea as we told before.
A ship took the head and gave it to someone in Italy.
Very interesting story,
let's walk into the temple, see the hosting rooms and the church.
We are now at the entrance of the temple.
We can see the yard and the rooms for the worshipers.
When is the feast day celebrated and what kind of events are taking place during that day?
The feast day is celebrated on July 22.
Many people proceed, from Chios, all over Greece and from all over the world.
Mostly Greek people
Mostly Greek people.
It's a very old custom
that Chian people are coming here to pray especially on the celebration day.
Do we meet people walking on our way here?
In nowadays there are a lot of people walking here from the city center to Agia Markella.
Before starting using cars they were coming on donkeys
or by boats through the sea.
From Limnia?
Some people say that boats from the port of Piraeus
were coming here during the first decades of 20th century.
Have you any idea about the number of the worshipers coming here every year?
We do not know the number,
as a lot of people are coming here to pray and they leave.
They used to come and spend the night, two or three days, sleeping in the yard, on the ground.
About 10.000 people are coming here to pray.
Sure.
How can a worshiper ask to stay in the hosting rooms?
You have to ask the committee of the Church, about the requirements.
It is true that this place is a Holy Place only for people who want to pray and spend one or two nights here,
not for travelers who want to spend their vacations and go swimming.
I cannot give you further information about what is required by the committee.
Mr Kostas Georgantis is the main sacristan of the church
and he can give you the information needed.
Can you tell us any strange or unusual story you 've heard all these years that you are here?
I 've heard about miracles that have taken place here,
I remember when I was a kid in 1965 and 1971;
some people were healed from paralysis or some diseases.
but I think the details are not important. People were coming here to pray, they had faith and they saw their request being done.
Ok
And of course there are miracles we haven't find out.
Sometimes the most important things are hidden in the details. These things are more important
than the popular stories that people talk about.
Nice.
So that was a short description of the region of Agia Markella, thank you very much.
Thank you.
Holy Water is the region that Saint Markella's martyrdom took place,
1km away from the church.
It is accessible only on feet from the northern side of the beach;
it takes 15-20 minutes to get there by an easy path.
The region is affected by southern and southwestern wind
so if you decide to visit the Holy Water spot you have to be aware of the waves.
We met some worshipers at the Holy Water spot.
Let's hear what they told us.
We are now at the Holy Water place,
many people are coming here to pray, take Holy Water,
let's talk to them.
Are you from Chios?
Yes
Do you come here often?
Unfortunately I don' t.
You don'??t have time?
Usually we come here on the celebration day
or during an excursion to visit the monastery.
It was difficult for you to come here?
It isn' t very easy,
in nowadays that our free time is limited. It's quite difficult.
Do you plans to go swimming and visit the beach or leave right after here?
We are going to combine this long driving with swimming,
food and we will go back home at night
Thank you very much.
You are welcome
Are you from Chios?
No
Where are you from?
From Ioannina
Have you been here before?
No it is the first time.
You have heard about the Holy Water and you came here to pray?
Yes, we came with our friends, they are from Chios
Was it difficult for you to come here?
Not at all, it was easy
Don' t you find it difficult driving from the city centre to here?
Quite difficult, the road was winding and the kids faced a small problem.
You had heard before coming here about Saint Markella and the Holy Water or you found it out here?
I didn'??t know about that, I found out here
Have fun.
Thank you very much.
Did you face any problem coming here, to the Holy Water place?
I am coming here every year.
As I am getting older is more difficult for me.
I have no other problems.
Are you going to stay here at the beach or you will spend your day at some other place?
It depends on my company
Have you heard about Saint Markella's miracles and healings?
I' ve heard a lot of stories,
I believe some of them, I do not believe the other.
This is an internal and personal procedure.
Have fun.
Thank you very much
The nearest fishing port located in the southern part of the beach.
It is the port of Lemnos, which we presented in a previous show.
We can find there, the proper infrastructure for launching small boats.
It is approximately 4.5 kilometers from the port by road and 4 km from the sea.
If you visit the area do not forget to light a candle in the name of Saint Markella and visit the Holy Water place.
You will feel awe off the region, the way the waves reach the rocks of the mountains.