Panagia Kathariotissa in Ithaca (8 September)
According to tradition, certain shepherds from Epirus in Ioannina, persecuted by Turkish-Albanians, arrived on the island of Ithaca with few possessions. They set up their huts at the foot of Mount Nirito, on the south side, in Mazos, four hundred meters from where the monastery is today. Great was their sadness however when they noticed that of their few possessions the miraculous icon of the Panagia was missing, which they had in their home and brought from Epirus.
Their grief did not last long. One night on their opposite side they saw a bright light. They realized that something was happening there. The next day, despite a thorough investigation at that spot, they found nothing. Yet for many nights after this the light continued to appear. They thought about cutting the trees, bushes and twigs in that area to better investigate.
Gathering a heap of bushes, they set it on fire. Amazed, they saw in the midst of the fire an even brighter light than the flames. When the fire extinguished, they were overjoyed to see among the ashes a blackened icon from the flames, but it was not burned! They wiped away the soot, and everyone recognized the icon of the Nativity of the Theotokos they had brought with them from Epirus. With tears in their eyes they kissed the icon and brought it back to their huts.