Hundreds of faithful gathered this year to attend the procession of Saint Theodora in Corfu’s Old Town, which takes place on Sunday of Orthodoxy. The litany starts from the Metropolitan Cathedral of Corfu, where the holy relic is kept.
The procession was officially established on the island in 1985 by Metropolitan Timotheos to celebrate the restoration of the icons in the churches of Constantinople by Empress Theodora, whose relic was transferred to Corfu shortly after the Fall of Constantinople in 1456.
After the procession, the cheimoniko was distributed to the faithful at the Metropolitan Cathedral, which was previously dedicated to Saint Vlasios, too. The cheimoniko is a small piece of watermelon, which was distributed on that day in memory of the miracle of Saint Vlasios. According to the Orthodox Church history, Saint Vlasios saved the island from the great epidemic that had afflicted the children on Corfu. Today, instead of watermelon, red carnations have been distributed to everyone.
Source: ANA-MPA
