The monastery of Panagia Kyra-Xeni, which was built from 1732 to 1756, is located near the village of Marlas. Tradition says that a ship coming from the Dardanelles ran into bad weather. The captain and the crew begged the Virgin Mary to save them, while he ordered himself to become a monk. While the ship was sinking and they fell into the sea, the captain found in the waves the icon of the Virgin Mary, which he asked him to bring to land. After he was saved and arrived in Marla he tried to carry the icon but it was too heavy, which he interpreted that he had to build a temple at that particular spot. He sold all his property and built the temple, dedicating it to Panagia Kyra-Xeni, because she came from abroad. The captain became a monk.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou