Pilgrimage of Panagia Tripiti (Pilgrimage of Zoodochis Pigi)

At the beach of Aigio, at the wooded rock over the old paper factory, is one of the most beautiful pilgrimages of Greece, the majestic church of Zoodochis Pigi (Life Giving Source), also known as Panagia Tripiti. The name comes from the tradition that the icon of the Virgin Mary was found inside a small cave, that is a hole (tripa in Greek) on the rock, by a castaway who became the first ascetic at this location.

The foundation of the church dates from the middle of the 16th century, the period when the icon was found, and the simple shrine that existed initially in time attracted more monks. The monastery existed at least until the beginning of the 19th century, as we learn from the unique report of traveller Pouqueville, who visited the area. The present day form of the church dates from the 19th century. In 1933 the celebration of Panagia Tripiti was established as the official religious celebration of Aigio, while in 1970 the church was recognized as a Sacred Pilgrimage and was characterized as a Public Legal Entity.

The church was built in the cave of the rock where the monastery used to be and part of it is carved on the rock. Main access is through a large scale staircase of renaissance style, with 150 steps, which was constructed in 1870 to plans of engineer Angelos Korizis. In the rock, lower from the church, in a small cave survives the hermitage of the first monk. At the entrance of the church there is “holy water”, a small spring on the rock and has been incorporated into a marble fountain in the shape of a cross. At its façade there is the well-known palindrome (a phrase which reads the same backward or forward) “ΝΙΨΟΝΑΝΟΜΗΜΑΤΑ ΜΗ ΜΟΝΑΝ ΟΨΙΝ”. At the interior of the church a dominant location is held by the icon of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus and a rare icon of Agios Georgios, depicted on foot and not on a horse as it is usual.

The church celebrates the day of Zoodochos Pigi, on Bright Friday.