“Did you hear about the silver icon that traveled across Europe?” I ask, a mischievous glint in my eye. We stand before the Ιωάννου Προδρόμου, a Greek Orthodox church steeped in history. It stands as a testament to the enduring faith of the people of Rhodes. You see, this church, the Ιωάννου Προδρόμου, has witnessed the ebb and flow of empires and the resilience of the human spirit. But let’s get back to the icon. Legend has it, a shepherd saw sparks flying from the top of Tsambika hill. He gathered the villagers, and they discovered a silver icon of the Virgin Mary, bathed in a mysterious light. The icon, believed to be from Cyprus, vanished twice, only to reappear on the hilltop. The awestruck villagers took this as a sign and built a chapel dedicated to Panagia Tsambika. The icon, now a beacon of hope for childless couples, continued its journey across Europe, eventually finding a home in the National Museum of Montenegro.
C.A.I.R. winery
“A toast to Rhodes,” someone whispered, raising an imaginary glass. And here, at the C.A.I.R. winery, the very air hums