St.Spyridon procession in Corfu Town today
CORFU. A large crowd, locals as well as tourists, were in the historic centre of Corfu to attend the religious events and venerate the relics of the patron saint.
With the celebration of a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, officiated by Archbishop Dionysios of Zakynthos, early on Monday morning, August 11, the devotional events continued, commemorating the miracle by which the Saint saved the island from the Turkish siege on August 11, 1716.
A large crowd, locals as well as tourists, were in the historic centre of Corfu to attend the religious events and venerate the relics of the patron saint.
The Miracle
The procession is held in remembrance of the island’s deliverance from the Ottoman Turks, who for 40 days had besieged the town of Corfu. After a torrential downpour, attributed to a miracle of the patron saint, Saint Spyridon, the Ottoman forces fled in disorder, never to return again.
Corfu became a bastion for all of Europe, and the defending Marshal Schulenburg was honoured for life by the Venetian Senate, which, by its decree of March 19, 1717, established that the annual procession of the Holy Relics of Saint Spyridon would take place every year on August 11.
The Saint will remain at the entrance until the afternoon of Saturday, August 13, all day and all night, for veneration by believers.
Photoreporter-video: Stamatis Katapodis
ELENI KORONAKI
