The harbour at Piso Livadi, Paros. The neighbouring (and larger) island of Naxos, totally unaffected by the storm which struck the harbour, can be glimpsed beyond it.
Part 1 of 2
ONE August evening in 1931, three fishermen put into a tiny harbour in Piso Livadi, on the Greek island of Paros.
Wine flowed freely, and the next day’s feast of the Virgin Mary, a day when the whole island honoured the Mother of God, drew their coarsest wit.
But as they laughed and drank, the sky darkened, and the sea began to rise like a hill. The wind picked up their little boats, and splintered them on the shore.
The storm passed as quickly as it had come. Presently, a boat came in from neighbouring Naxos. “What happened here?” asked the captain as he made fast. “Our crossing was smooth as glass!”
“It was a miracle of the Virgin” replied one chastened fisherman, but Gregory Liákouras was all derision.
“Mary doesn’t trouble herself about the likes of us fishermen” he said, spat on his shattered boat, and went to bed.
Précis
Three fishermen on the island of Paros in Greece got drunk, and shockingly abused the Virgin Mary. A storm immediately arose, and destroyed their boats. Some of the fisherman learned their lesson; but one declared that Mary took no interest in the lives of common fishermen, and refused to mend his ways. (52 / 60 words)
Part Two
The interior of the Panagia Ekatontapyliani, the 6th century church on the island of Paros in Greece where the fisherman made his apologies on August 15th, 1931.
AS he lay in his bed, Gregory became aware of the indistinct figure of a woman beside him. “My boy, why do you have no respect for me?” she asked. “I don’t even know you, woman”, Gregory complained muzzily.
“You don’t?” his visitor inquired, puzzled. “So why insult me all the time?”
At that, Gregory leapt to his feet. He tried to cry out, but couldn’t; he tried to run, but it was as if he was buried in sand up to his knees.
“Come to my house in Parikia” said the lady, referring to an ancient church on the other side of the island, “and pay your respects to me there”.
It was ten miles away, but Gregory was there by dawn.
He made his sincere apologies in front of Mary’s icon - he instantly recognised his night-time visitor - before returning to Piso Livadi.
To his surprise, Gregory found his little fishing boat bobbing up and down in the harbour. It didn’t have so much as a scratch on it.
Précis
Three fishermen who habitually abused the Virgin Mary looked on as their boats were smashed in a freak storm. One man remained unrepentant, however, so Mary appeared to him and sent him to a church to show her proper respect. He speedily obeyed, and Mary restored their boats, and their livelihood. (51 / 60 words)
