August 23
Panagia Katholiki, Kremasti, Rhodes, South Aegean, Greece
On the west side of of Rhodes, a Greek island near the southwestern coast of Turkey, the town of Kremasti is known for its beach, the Valley of Butterflies nearby, and the Church of the Assumption, hand-built by the faithful in 1960 near the site of two earlier Orthodox churches. Starting on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, and culminating on August 23, Feast of Panagia Katholiki, the Universal All-Holy One, pilgrims converge on Kremasti from all the islands around Rhodes. Many bring gifts to lay before the Virgin's icon—oil, beeswax, candles, jewelry, fabrics—or replicas of items prayed for, such as body parts and money. Inside the church, the sick lie near the image hoping for a cure. Outside, costumed dancers perform the ancient sword dance. There are vendor booths and amusements for children. On August 23, naval officers carry the Virgin's image in procession. This semicircular icon of the 1400s, depicting the Virgin Mother holding the child in the ancient frontal pose, between angels, is held to replicate a mural, the "Foundress" icon of Kremasti's church. It was installed in 1926, after the mural in the church of 1839 had deteriorated. In 1935, a fire revealed traces of the original mural behind that one. The Universal All-Holy One has the affectionate nickname Mavromata, the Dark-Eyed Lady.
Picture from "Εικόνες της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου," Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής, www.saint.gr/theotokosicons.aspx
Sources include:
 | "Kremasti, Rhodes Greece," Greece Hotel, www.greekhotel.com/dodecane/rhodes/kremasti/village/rhodes-kremasti.htm |
| "Κρεμαστή Ρόδου," Βικιπαίδεια, el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Κρεμαστή_Ρόδου |
| Archimandrite Meliton Mpellou, "Παναγία «Καθολική» Κρεμαστής," Ιερά Μητρόπολις Ρόδου - Οικουμενικόν Πατριαρχείον, www.imr.gr/content.php?menuid=3&id=61 |
| Nikos Nikolaou & Anthony Angelis, eds. "Tribute to the feast of the All-Holy Universal One in Kremasti," from Anastassios Vrontis, The All-Holy Ones of Rhodes, Rhodes Library, www.rhodeslibrary.gr/info/2004_1/vrontis.html |
| Nikos Konstantinidis, "Η εκκλησία: «Η Κρεμαστή της Ρόδου»," Η Ροδιακη, www.rodiaki.net/article.php?id=52910&catid=1&subcatid=37 |
Also commemorated this date:
| 1328, Battle of Cassel, northern France. Afterwards, Philippe de Valois thanked Our Lady for his victory over rebellious Flemish burghers by riding into Notre-Dame de Paris on horseback. An equestrian statue in the church commemorates this event. |
| Panagia Prousiotissa, Karpenisi, Haryana, Central Greece, Greece (All-Holy One from Bursa). Pilgrimage to miraculous icon in monastery on precipice. |
| Panagia Faneromeni, Steno, Salamis Island, Attica, Greece (All-Holy Revealed One). Pilgrimage to miraculous icon in monastery. |
| Panagia of Grava, Chora, Patmos, Kalymnos, South Aegean, Greece. Patronal feast day at Dormition Monastery. |
| Madonna di Guadalupe, Santo Stefano d'Aveto, Genova, Liguria, Italy. Replica of Mexican Madonna crowned, 1987. Festa Sun. after Aug. 15 or 16. |
| Beata Vergine del Monte Carmelo, Nusco, Avellino, Campania, Italy. Festa Aug. 22-23. |
| Virgen de la Poveda, Villa del Prado, Madrid, Spain. Statue crowned, 1998. Fiestas Easter Monday and Sept. 8. |
| Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Peñalsordo, Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. Fiesta lasts several days. |
| Virgen de la Peña, Añora, Córdoba, Andalucía, Spain (Virgin of the Crag). Fair. |
| Virgen del Buen Suceso, Villaralto, Córdoba, Andalucía, Spain (Virgin of the Good Event). Statue found, 1831. |