On a quiet shore in the Saint Theodoroi area of Naxos island stands a small chapel. The chapel and the sea, nothing more. Legend has it that thieves rowed to shore to rob the holy altar in the chapel which was composed of a piece of marble from an ancient temple. The boat sank and the holy altar remained on the shore where it grew roots. Somewhere near there it was said that an oar was discovered; the Great Oar. On it was the female head of a deity or the Virgin Mary. The oar was in an upright position so it could be seen even out at sea.
There were pieces of twine wrapped around it and small pieces of wood attached to it representing human desires and wishes of the poor, the simple folk. The woven pieces symbolized the faithful ones' belief that something positive would occur. On the base of the Oar they added small ceramic vessels, offerings, seeds, oil and more.
Even to this day, one can find ceramic shards scattered about testifying to the fact that the offerings were many, as many as the miracles that probably occured. "The Great Oar" art work by sculptor Irini Gonou stood in the offices of the Gerolymatos Group of Companies to remind everyone that the founder and managing director of Gerolymatos Group of Companies, Panagiotis N. Gerolymatos' vision held true because he was guided by the philosophy "it requires effort to achieve miracles."
There were pieces of twine wrapped around it and small pieces of wood attached to it representing human desires and wishes of the poor, the simple folk. The woven pieces symbolized the faithful ones' belief that something positive would occur. On the base of the Oar they added small ceramic vessels, offerings, seeds, oil and more.
Even to this day, one can find ceramic shards scattered about testifying to the fact that the offerings were many, as many as the miracles that probably occured. "The Great Oar" art work by sculptor Irini Gonou stood in the offices of the Gerolymatos Group of Companies to remind everyone that the founder and managing director of Gerolymatos Group of Companies, Panagiotis N. Gerolymatos' vision held true because he was guided by the philosophy "it requires effort to achieve miracles."
