Panagia Myrtidia - a recorded miracle attributed to her

The ΚΥΘΗΡΑΪΗ newspaper, dated 15 March 1928, featured an article titled ΤΟ ΘΑΥΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΑΣ ΜΥΡΤΙΔΙΩΤΙΣΗΣ – The Miracle of the Panagia Myrtidiotissa. Over the years, numerous miracles have been attributed to Myrtidia, yet this remains the only contemporary document discovered thus far.

Ekaterini Xanthaki was born at 5 a.m. on 12 December 1906 in Chora, Kythera. She was baptized on 2 March 1907 at Estavromenos Christos church in Chora. She was the second of six children born to Nikolaos Xanthakis (born 1875 in Kythera, died 1957 in Athens) and Regisa Darmarou (born 1875 in Kythera, died 1959 in Athens), both from noble Kytherian families. Her father was a merchant, agent, and landowner. Her lineage includes nearly all the noble families of Chora. At the age of 17, Ekaterini suffered from an "acute nervous condition," characterized by violent outbursts, self-harm, and destruction of property. She frequently cried out in anger day and night and eventually refused food and medication for 12 days. Her family anticipated her death, considering it preferable to her suffering.

Her parents Nikolaos Xanthakis and Regisa Darmarou. Photos found in ΚΥΘΗΡΑΪΚΗ ΔΡΑΣΙΣ newspapers.

One night, while awake, she experienced a vision instructing her to pray to Panagia Myrtidiotissa. From that point, her condition showed slight improvement, although she continued receiving medical treatments. Subsequently, she had another vision, this time of an angel, who told her that visiting Myrtidia would eliminate her need for medication.

In desperation, her family transported her to Myrtidia from Neapolis, where her father served as a customs officer. Upon arrival in Kapsali, they traveled by car directly to Myrtidia and informed the abbot of her condition and visions. During the prayers, Ekaterini reported feeling an invisible hand squeezing her heart, after which she regained her strength. Those present believed they had witnessed a miracle.

The Myrtidiotissa icon today. The icon is the same as 1928, but the throne she now sits in has been updated.

It is presumed that the family returned to Athens, as both her parents passed away there in the late 1950s. No additional information regarding Ekaterini's marriage or death has been found to date. It remains unknown whether she experienced a recurrence of her symptoms or if she was indeed permanently healed.

Bibliography

ΚΥΘΗΡΑΪΗ newspaper

www.kytheriangenealogy.com