The Marble
Palace, Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with its
numerous Chapels, Cells and Administrative Offices, was constructed in
the Island of Tenos on an ancient religious site. 
Tinos Island, Greece
January 30, 1823 was the Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs. Although it was a religious holiday, work was continued by the inhabitants of the village of Phalatas, whose turn it was to work on that particular day. Their work was concentrated mainly on the excavation of the floor of the Church under construction and the levelling and transporting of earth.
Facts about the Holy Icon
The Holy
Icon of the Annunciation of Tenos, also called the Megalochari
by the people, originally decorated the ancient Church of S1. John the
Precursor. The island's occupants were poor people, who no longer worshipped
the Olympian "gods". They destroyed the idols and during the
Byzantine era built Churches to the Glory of God.
Construction of the Church
Immediately
after the discovery of the Holy Icon, a decision was
made to build a large Shrine above the Chapel of the Life- Giving Well
(ZOO DOHOS PIGHI). The Lower Church was extended by porticos to both
right and left, as a foundation to the brilliant Church which we witness
today. Plans were made for its construction by Mr. Eustratios Kallonaris,
an Architect from Smyrna.