On Palm Sunday, after the Divine Liturgy, there takes place the litany of the holy Relic of St. Spyridon.
This particular litany, which is held since 1630, follows the longest way in the town of Corfu, in commemoration of St. Spyridon’s miracle, when he prayed for the island to be relieved from the plague that had gripped Corfu and Italy, whence the deadly virus is said to have spread in October 1629 AD.
According to the religious tradition, the plague stopped when, on Palm Sunday, after the prayers of the faithful, at St. Spyridon Church, a light like a lamp emerged over the bell tower of St. Spyridon and the plague on the island ceased. After this miraculous incident, under the appeal of administrators and the decree of Venetian Vailos Ioannis Prioulis, on June 21, 1630 AD., Palm Day was established for the litany of St. Spyridon’s relic.
During the litany that lasts for more than three hours, there participate all the clergymen of Corfu, the local authorities and the island’s 18 philharmonics.
Before the litany, the churches provide everyone in the congregation bay leaves in the shape of the cross, which are artistically plaited each year by the women of the Church committees.
Source: ANA-MPA
