Corfu Religion

In Corfu, as in most of Greece, the vast majority of National days have their roots within the Christian faith. And in Corfu, more so than others the need for the ceremonial is overwhelming.
The greatest event in Corfu is Easter, for which it attracts thousands of Greeks from the mainland, and for a few days literally doubling the population of the island. It is a beautiful time to be in Corfu both for the interesting religious ceremonies as well as the feasting and celebrations that follow. In the smaller villages away from the tourist areas visitors will cordially be invited to join in the celebrations.

Greek Easter does not normally coincide with the Protestant or Catholic Easter. Celebrations begin during the month of February with the Carnival during which children dress up in fancy dress and run riot in the streets playing. On Shrove Tuesday there is big parade in Corfu Town. The actual Easter festival begins on Good Friday when sombre processions throughout every village in Corfu, parade through the streets transporting the “body” of Christ from the Cross to its burial site. This is accentuated by the lavishly decorated funeral bier of Christ. In Greece this ceremony is known as the “Epitafios”.

Agios (Saint) Spyridon is situated in Corfu town. Built in 1589 in order to replace the older church of Sorokos, destroyed dur­ing the construction of the town's walls, it is a single nave basilica, which has the highest bell-tower of all the islands churches. The bell-tower has a unigue red dome and clock and is similar to the bell-tower of the Orthodox Church of St George in Venice. Agios Spryridon, to whom the church is dedicated, is the patron of the island who, before becom­ing a bishop started life as a shepherd in Cyprus. He is re­lated to many miracles such as the salvation of the island from the Turkish occupation, the famine and the epidemics. His relics were brought from Constantinople and are pre­ciously kept in a golden shrine from Venice. His mummified body can be seen in the Church or during certain festivals where he is carried through the streets of the town.