Church bombarded with prayer e-mails

Published: Aug. 15, 2008 at 12:11 PM

TINOS, Greece, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- A Greek Orthodox church was bombarded with e-mailed prayer requests in the run-up to Friday's observance of the Virgin Mary's Day, church officials said.

The Church of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tinos is considered a shrine by Greek Orthodox members, and each year thousands make pilgrimages to the church to pray before the saint's icon, the Kathimerini newspaper reported.

Metropolitan Dorotheos of Syros, who oversees the church, said more than 500 prayer requests from around the world were received in recent days, which is usually the number for the whole year.

"The service has been created for people who may not be able to visit the Church of the Virgin Mary ... but who can send their messages which we will bring before (her) icon," the metropolitan said.

He said many of the requests carry explanations, such as health or financial problems that prevent the writers from showing up in person.

The devout can send prayer requests to info@im-syrou.gr.

SOURCE:

READ THE PREVIOUS POST RELATED TO THIS STORY: