Tinos' Thousand Chapels: A Family Tradition of Faith and Community

On the Cycladic island of Tinos, faith, family, and tradition converge in a remarkable way: more than a thousand private chapels are lovingly maintained by local families.

These simple, whitewashed stone chapels — some centuries old, others more recent — are not run by the Church, but by ordinary islanders. From farmers to hotel owners, devout Orthodox and Catholics to secular Greeks, families across generations take on the responsibility of keeping their ancestral chapels alive.

Each chapel, often no larger than a single room, is tied to a feast day — dedicated to a saint or the Virgin Mary — when families organise a panigiri, a community celebration that combines liturgy, food, music, and fellowship.

“This tradition is part of our identity. I am fully committed to maintaining it and passing it down to my children,” said Ioanna Krikelli during the September festival at her family’s chapel of Agios Sostis, built in the 17th century on a rocky point facing Mykonos.

The custom dates back centuries, shaped by Venetian and Ottoman rule, seafaring vows for safe returns, and family dedications to the saints. Today, the chapels still stand as testaments to both personal devotion and community bonds.

Local architect Maria Vidali notes that beyond their spiritual role, the chapels became deeply rooted in Tinos’ history as farmers and sailors built them to honor divine protection. Catholic priest Father Markos Foskolos, who has chronicled the island’s history, adds that every chapel carries the signature of its builder, even within the uniform Cycladic style.

Festivals at family chapels once served as major social events, with food and hospitality offered to pilgrims and neighbors alike. Today, while gatherings may be smaller, the spirit remains the same — families come together, often traveling from abroad, to honor tradition and strengthen community ties.

Even younger generations, though less devout, continue the practice. For many, the chapels represent not only faith, but also cultural heritage, family memory, and a sense of belonging.

“Christianity has religious aspects but also cultural aspects. It brings people together. I want to keep it going,” said 26-year-old Giannis Kafantaris, whose family chapel, Panagia Theoskepasti, sits on a remote mountainside.

On Tinos, where there are more chapels than villages, the small white sanctuaries remain enduring symbols of Greek identity, continuity, and community — living heirlooms passed carefully from one generation to the next.

(Source: Story/Photos - Associated Press)