History

26 Kas 1838

American missionary Lorenzo Warriner Pease described the departure of the icon of the Panagia of Kykko from Larnaca, while it was being taken around the island to protect against the epidemic of plague

 

American missionary Lorenzo Warriner Pease described the departure of the icon of the Panagia of Kykko from Larnaca, while it was being taken around the island to protect against the epidemic of plague:

This morning, on going over to Mr Ladd’s, I heard the priest striking the oar with great zeal, which as I suppose was a call for the worshippers to go to the church. On going through the church yard, however, I heard no noise and as I passed to Mr Thompson’s, I found that he had gone out and that the Panagia had departed on her way to Citium, accompanied by a crowd of perhaps 1000 persons. I hastened with Sarah to overtake the crowd. When I arrived near I saw that the procession was preceded by a man who beat the oar every few moments, accompanied by a priest and then followed two janissaries in red robes, [a flag with several ropes, white ground and] (I suppose of the Swedish and Neapolitan consuls as they were present), after whom were borne the Cherubim and their ropes and fine lanterns with burning wax tapers. The precious picture was then borne in a chair by several persons who frequently changed so as to give a larger number the honour of being so near to the sacred painting.