Sunshine for today΄s ΄First Sunday΄ procession
First Sunday
06 Nov 2022
/ 13:14
CORFU. Despite the forecast for continued bad weather, the ΄First Sunday΄ St. Spyridon procession was conducted in bright sunshine.
Despite the forecast for continued bad weather, today's ΄First Sunday΄ St. Spyridon procession in Corfu Town was conducted in bright sunshine to the delight of the crowds of people gathered to witness the annual event.
There had only been a bit of rainfall and the procession went ahead with few problems.
Traditional Corfu celebration
The celebrations begin early on the Sunday morning with the Liturgy in St. Spyridon Church, followed by the procession with the sacred relics of St. Spyridon accompanied by the priests, philharmonic bands and school pupils.
The procession was first established following a decision from the Venetian Administration on 29 October 1673 to commemorate what the Church believed to be the intervention of St. Spyridon to drive the plague from the island. It was decided to hold the procession every year on the first Sunday of November, from which came the name 'Protokyriako'.
Historical reports say that the plague ended suddenly at the end of October, 1673 and witnesses said that for three nights there was a bright light at the top of the church bell tower in which the saint could be seen holding a cross in his hand driving out the plague, which, with the appearance of a dark phantom, was trying to save itself.
Thus it was decided on 29 October, 1673 to hold the procession on the first Sunday of November every year to remember how the saint drove out the plague which was, for the second time in a year, killing so many of the islanders.
According to local tradition, St. Spyridon's divine intervention also healed all those who had been struck by the plague.
There had only been a bit of rainfall and the procession went ahead with few problems.
Traditional Corfu celebration
The celebrations begin early on the Sunday morning with the Liturgy in St. Spyridon Church, followed by the procession with the sacred relics of St. Spyridon accompanied by the priests, philharmonic bands and school pupils.
The procession was first established following a decision from the Venetian Administration on 29 October 1673 to commemorate what the Church believed to be the intervention of St. Spyridon to drive the plague from the island. It was decided to hold the procession every year on the first Sunday of November, from which came the name 'Protokyriako'.
Historical reports say that the plague ended suddenly at the end of October, 1673 and witnesses said that for three nights there was a bright light at the top of the church bell tower in which the saint could be seen holding a cross in his hand driving out the plague, which, with the appearance of a dark phantom, was trying to save itself.
Thus it was decided on 29 October, 1673 to hold the procession on the first Sunday of November every year to remember how the saint drove out the plague which was, for the second time in a year, killing so many of the islanders.
According to local tradition, St. Spyridon's divine intervention also healed all those who had been struck by the plague.
