THE LEGEND OF THE EVIL BEE

For many centuries, the Aegean islands suffered from the scourge of pirate raids. This was especially true for Kythera, which was always the bone of contention, due to its position, between the powers that wanted to dominate the region. Many times the island was deserted for long periods due to this situation. The fear of these tragic events has reached our days through the legends about the actions of pirates on the island.

Their only hope and consolation was their faith. This is evident from the hundreds of churches throughout the island, as well as the special relationship of the Kytherians with the Virgin Mary, who they consider their protector. They attribute many miracles to her, with which she saved the island from difficult times, as well as from pirate raids.

Beekeeping has been developed in Kythera since ancient times, and has pioneered new hives and introduced innovations. One of the miracles of the Virgin Mary, therefore, is related to the bees, which the Kytherians consider a gift from God for their island. South of the village of Livadi there is an old small monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the Evil Bee. This was a women's monastery with a small number of nuns.

Tradition says that when pirates landed on the island, they attacked this monastery as well. The nuns, who were inside the Church at that time, performing the morning devotional, continued to pray, singing hymns to the Virgin Mary. Frightened by the screams of the pirates and the banging on the door, they continued their hymns and prayers with even greater intensity.

Suddenly, the noise began to fade away. When, at last, everything seemed calm, they came out of the Temple and saw a strange sight: about thirty miserable savages, lying in the courtyard, rolling and groaning. The abbess ordered the nuns and they ran to help them. Their faces were swollen and they could not open their eyes. A swarm of bees had attacked them with ferocity. After a while, they began to recover one by one.

The last to rise was the leader of the Algerians, who was also the fiercest of all, deformed, bloated and almost blind. He headed towards the Temple and after taking off his sandals, he left them outside the door of the Temple. Then his companions imitated him. They approached the icon of the Virgin Mary and knelt down. Those who a moment before had been the beasts of the black flag were now calm and humble like young children. They took out their pouches and emptied them in front of them. Leaving the Temple, the leader of the pirates exclaimed, addressing the Virgin Mary:

"I saw you! You sent us the bees and they twisted us. But, you did us good. So you are the evil bee"!

From the contents of the pouches, the silver shirt of the Icon was made, and from the address of the pirate chief, the monastery took the name VIRGIN MOTHER OF THE EVIL BEE and is celebrated every year on February 2nd.

Source: Κυθηραϊκή επετηρίς (Kytherian Yearbook) 1913, attributed by Ioannis Protopsaltis