The Rock Panagitsa of Mila
The small church of Vrachopanagitsa (Rock Panagia – Virgin Mary) is 2-3 km away from the village of Mila, 500 meters below and north of the Frankish Castle of Mila, on the left bank of the river "Xasteros" (Lefkasia). It is located in a wonderful landscape with tall plane trees, willows, lakes and watermills. The interior of the small temple is 4x4 meters with a height of 3 meters. On the east side of the cave, which is located at the height of 8-10 meters from the rock base, the Holy Table has been carved. Flowers, which are collected by the girls and put in the "yuko" (chest) where they keep their dowries to keep them fresh, scented and protected from moths, grow at the edges and above the rock.
The small cave was turned into a temple during the Byzantine times, as there are Byzantine hagiographies in the niche of the temple. This probably happened during the Iconoclasm by monks. During the Turkish occupation, the church also functioned as a secret school, according to the testimony of Pope Theodore Loutzis who was ordained pope in Mila during the Revolution of 1821.
Vrachopanagitsa is honoured in memory of the birthday of the Virgin Mary who celebrates on September 8th. In the old days, there was also a festival that took place. Even today there is a service organized on the day of the celebration.