KIPOUPOLIS, Greece (Reuters) - Thousands of Greek Orthodox worshipers are flocking to witness a "bleeding" icon of the Virgin Mary near Athens, buying talismans and praying for miracle cures.
Witnesses said drops of blood sprang from the glass-covered icon during services last Friday night at St. Nektarios Church in the Kipoupolis district, about 6 miles from the center of Athens.
"The priest, Father Chysostomos, first thought it was a stain and asked us to clean it up, but he looked closer and saw the blood was under the glass," a church assistant called Vassilis told Reuters Thursday.
"This icon was painted for our church in 1997 and nothing like this had ever happened before," he added.
Word of the miracle has brought thousands of worshipers to the basement of the church, which is still being built. The overwhelming majority of Greeks are Orthodox Christians, but only a fraction are regular churchgoers.
"We were determined to come the moment we heard about it," said Maria Maggiri, 70.
The Holy Synod, the Greek church's administrative body, would not comment on the miracle.
Visitors of all ages lined up to kiss the icon, which took pride of place in the middle of the church, flanked by flowers and candles. The bloodstains are on the neck of the icon.
Some dropped to their knees to pray, and others left jewelry, flowers and precious objects on its box as votive offerings.
There appeared to be disagreement on what the miracle meant. Some said it was a bad omen foretelling a disaster such as war, while others believed it was God's way of reaffirming people's faith.
"Blood on an icon is not always a good thing," one elderly woman said.
Street vendors sold popcorn, cotton candy and ice cream, and Greek television channels reported live from the church, nestled among working-class houses and apartment buildings.