During their holiday in Rhodes, in 2014, Australian businessman Joe Mirabella and his wife Messina along with their “koumbaroi” climbed the 320 steps of the Monastery of Saint Tsambika – known across the world as the Virgin of Fertility.
For this reason, the monastery draws thousands of couples each year who struggle to conceive.
Climbing up those steps, and seeing all the couples around him praying for a child, he made a “tama” – a promise to himself and to Saint Tsambika – that he would light up the Monastery and all the steps leading towards it, if his own wish came true, and his wife Messina became pregnant. Two years later, they were blessed with twins.
For the last three years, with the help of his Greek friends, he worked on getting all the necessary paperwork ready so the lights can finally be installed. The Monastery is expected to light up in April, just in time for the celebrations of Easter.
READ MORE: Journey to the island of the sun
A certificate of recognition was awarded to him by the Rhodian Brotherhood of Melbourne Victoria “Diagoras” last week during their yearly celebration of “Ensomatosi”.
