All Astypalaia residents love this church. Every February 2nd, the most important feast of the island takes place there in honor of the Presentation of Christ.
Tradition says that a shepherd found the icon of Virgin Mary in a cave near the place where the church stands today. He took the icon to the town only to find out that it had been miraculously returned to the cave the next day. This happened again and again until the residents of the island decided to build the monastery.
