Crowds flock from all over the island of Corfu to the church of The Virgin Mary of Kassiopi each 15th August to pay their respects to the Panaghia (Holiest of Saints) and mother of all, who offers protection and comfort, as well as performing miracles, to celebrate her Assumption to Heaven, or Dormition (dying in peaceful state) as the Greek Orthodox believe. It is a national public holiday, being the third most important feast in the Greek Orthodox Church, after Easter and Christmas.
Crowds flock from all over the island of Corfu to the church of The Virgin Mary of Kassiopi each 15th August to pay their respects to the Panaghia (Holiest of Saints) and mother of all, who offers protection and comfort, as well as performing miracles, to celebrate her Assumption to Heaven, or Dormition (dying in peaceful state) as the Greek Orthodox believe. It is a national public holiday, being the third most important feast in the Greek Orthodox Church, after Easter and Christmas.
Following the 15th August morning mass, a procession carries the icon of the Virgin Mary around Kassiopi village, accompanied by a brass band and choir, while the locals cross themselves with reverence to the blessing of the priest. The village is alive from early morning to very late at night, with both visitors and itinerant street vendors selling toys, handicraft, loucoumades (traditional donuts) and warm nuts, crowding the streets. As in all Greek traditional festivals, a live band plays traditional Greek music enticing both the locals and visitors to dance in a circle by the seafront, around which you find plenty of lamb cooking on the spit, souvlakia and wine. It is a special occasion bringing family and friends together, the children are seen playing till late at night, while the teenagers throw flirtatious glances at each other. The party culminates with fireworks lighting up the night sky over Kassiopi harbour.
