Our Lady of Tinos church, considered the capital of religious tourism in Greece, draws flocks of the faithful to the Aegean island. They come come to pray for a miracle to their woes bringing tamata (votive offerings), usually trinkets made of precious metals. Greek Parapolitika newspaper traced what happens to these offerings after a suitcase full of them was found at the Eleftherios Venizelos Athens International Airport.

What most people are unaware of is that the blessed offerings made by thousands of believers are then taken to Turkey. They are melt down and then sold to the Bank of Greece by the Foundation of Tinos that gets cash in return.

In particular, customs officials on September 8 investigated a suitcase with golden plaques inside. The airport officials were surpised to find that these had originally been tamata. In particular, the suitcase on this one trip carried 7 kilos and 82 grams worth of gold.