Corfu, Greece, August 13, 2025
Photo: Romfea
The island of Corfu held its traditional two-day celebration on August 11-12, commemorating the miraculous intervention of St. Spyridon that saved the island from Ottoman Turkish siege in 1716.
On Monday morning, August 11, the sacred relics of St. Spyridon were carried through the streets of Corfu in a magnificent procession following centuries-old Corfiot tradition. The procession was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos and the Diapontian Islands, joined by Metropolitans Theofilos of Lefkada and Ithaca, Dionysios of Zakynthos and Strophades, and Timotheos of Thessaliotis and Fanariofersala, and Bishop Dionysios of Kotyaion, auxiliary bishop of the Metropolis of Italy, reports Romfea.
Two special prayer services were held during the procession: the first at the entrance of the Old Fortress, commemorating the saint’s miracle, and the second at the palace.
Photo: Romfea
In his address, Met. Nektarios drew parallels between the 1716 siege and modern challenges, stating that “Corfu was besieged then! Our land is besieged today as well—by various sins that those in power present as rights, by the indifference of our people who have been led to this since values, both national and moral, were devalued.”
The Metropolitan is presumably referring in particular to the 2024 decision to legalize gay marriage and adoption in Greece.
The celebrations continued Tuesday morning, August 12, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Holy Shrine of St. Spyridon. The service was presided over by Met. Theofilos of Lefkada and Ithaca, with the same bishops co-serving alongside Met. Nektarios.
Photo: Romfea
Met. Theofilos delivered the homily, emphasizing the consistency between St. Spyridon’s words and deeds. “St. Spyridon reached the point of theologizing, performing miracles, and loving sacrificially. The words of the Lord became the charter of his life,” he said.
The Metropolitan challenged the congregation about spiritual consistency in modern times, noting that “Christ doesn’t ask for perfection from us, but to struggle to love without self-interest. He asks us not to have ourselves as the center of our lives, but God.”
Addressing contemporary challenges, the Metropolitan observed that “sin today has become everyday life. Our spiritual sensors have weakened, and we consider it our right to do whatever we want without respecting the word of God and the person of our fellow human being.”
Photo: Romfea
Met. Nektarios, in welcoming the visiting bishops, noted that the concelebration serves as “a sign of thanksgiving to God for the blessing of having given us St. Spyridon as protector and patron saint of this place.”
Throughout both days and nights, the saint’s relics remained available for veneration, with faithful and pilgrims continuously arriving to pray and present their petitions. The veneration period extends through this afternoon.
The annual celebration remains one of Corfu’s most significant religious events, drawing thousands of Orthodox faithful from across Greece and beyond to honor the island’s patron saint and his miraculous protection over three centuries ago.
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