By George Paporis
In the mid-1920s, most of the inhabitants of Kremasti were engaged in agriculture. It is known to everyone that many times the farmer's labor and sweat go to waste, because it depends on factors independent of his will. Drought, humidity, hail, frost and other weather phenomena regulate the harvest.
Everything depends on the sky. That is why the farmer's only support is God. He prays to Him every morning when he makes his cross at sunrise, before starting any agricultural work. And in Him he places all his hopes for a good harvest.
That year God seemed to have forgotten them. The whole winter had passed without rain. The whole village was in a difficult situation. The wells had no water. The land was dried up. The trees and vegetables were waiting unjustly to drink. The entire plain groaned. One realized what drought and dryness mean for an agricultural place. Drought in agriculture means destruction.
So all the inhabitants, with the intense religiosity that distinguishes them, considered this bad circumstance is nothing more than God's punishment. God's wrath that wants to make them wise for their sins. A test for reasons that only He knows. That is why they decided to call upon the Panagia Katholiki, who is one of them, as an intercessor. She will implore "Her Son and God", to send a divine gift, the rain.
So they gathered on the appointed day in the church to do a Paraklesis to the Theotokos. Most of the people were outside the church, due to the narrowness of the space, because the entire village had gathered. They waited for the Paraklesis to end and then for the litany of the Icon to take place around the temple. At that morning hour, some people from Soroni passed by on their animals. They were going to the city to shop. They saw the gathering of the people in Kremasti and asked what was happening. When they were informed of the reason for the gathering of the people, then with the caustic irony of their words, they said thoughtlessly: “Take umbrellas too so you don’t get wet” and continued on their way.
The litany ended. Without exaggeration, as soon as the priest said the Amen, the first clouds began to appear from Garbi. The sun, which began its daily journey brightly, quickly began to play hide and seek behind the clouds, which then came thick and black, heavy with rain. Before noon, the floodgates of the sky opened. The rain fell incessantly, strong, unprecedented and life-giving for all creatures! God's blessing for the thirsty land! The miracle is a fact. The villagers rejoiced with great joy. They praised God and thanked their fellow villager, the Panagia.
In the afternoon, when the rain stopped, most of the residents were in the cafes on the main street and discussed the pleasant event of the day. No one remembered the morning ironic teasing of the people of Soroni. But they returned soaked to the bone. The sacks of flour, uncovered and unprotected from the rain on the animals, dripped white juices. Ashamed and with their heads bowed, because they had doubted with their words the miraculous power of the Panagia, they passed by and did not even turn around to say hello.
Source: From the book "The Panagia Katholiki of Kremasti in Rhodes". Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
