The presence of the scene of Agios Spyridon in Corfu for more than 450 years has shaped morals and customsproduced and produces spiritual movement and a timeless rich ecclesiastical and cultural tradition, to the point that Corfu and Agios Spyridon form an unbreakable bonda single identity.

How did the holy relic arrive on the island?

Saint Spyridon fell asleep on December 12, 348, at the age of 78, and since then his body remains indestructible, except for his right hand.

By the 7th century, his plot remained in Cyprus. Then, he was transferred to Constantinople.

In 1453 immediately after the Fall of Constantinople was transferred, through Thrace, Macedonia and Epirus to Corfu The year 1456.

In Corfu initially the remains were placed in the church of Agios Athanasios. The children of Georgios Kalochairetis, Loukas and Philippos, inherited the relic of Agios Spyridon. When Philip’s daughter Asimina married Stamatellos Voulgaris in 1520, she offered him the holy relic as a dowry. From then until 1925 it was owned by the Voulgaris family.

The body of the Saint was transferred for a short time to the cathedral of Taxiarchos Michael in Campielos. In the year 1528 Stamatellos Voulgaris built a church of the Saint in the Suburb of Agios Rokos and the relic was transferred there. During the first siege of Corfu by the Turks in 1537, it was temporarily moved to the church of Agioi Anargyri in the Old Fortress. After the siege he returned to his temple.

In the year 1577 due to fortification works it was decided to demolish the temple. Then the relic of Agios Spyridon was temporarily transferred to the church of Agios Nikolaos of Xenos in Garitsa. In 1589 the present church was inaugurated, which was probably completed in 1594. Since then the relic was moved there and remains to this day.

In the year 1967 by Presidential Decree o holy temple of Agios Spyridon in the city of Corfu was officially recognized as the same NPDD, under the name “Holy Pilgrimage of Agios Spyridon of Corfu”.

The miracles of St

The island overcame many trials thanks to Agios.

– Four times the Venetian-occupied Corfu was saved either from diseases, from hunger or from the invasion of the Turks. In particular, in 1553 the Saint saved the island from famine (famine). For this reason, the Great Saturday litany was established.

– In 1630 he freed the island from the plague. For this reason, the litany of Palm Sunday was established.

– In 1673 he intervened again and saved Corfu from the plague for the second time. For this reason, the litany was established every first Sunday of November (New Year’s Day).

– End, in 1716 he freed the island from the siege of the Turks. For this reason, the litany of August 11 was established.

With information from imcorfu.gr