Greece Honors Dormition of Virgin Mary With Customs and Festivities Nationwide

The people of Greece observe the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, or Panagia—meaning “All-Holy” or “Full of Grace”—with numerous customs and festivals today, August 15.

Deeply revered as the mother of Jesus and considered a spiritual protector and source of comfort for all people, she is honored across the country on this public holiday, which marks one of the most important celebrations in Orthodox Christianity: the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.

Each region observes the day—often referred to as the “Easter of Summer”—in its own unique way. The Virgin Mary holds deep religious and cultural significance in Greece, and devotion to her has inspired many local titles that honor her miracles and blessings. She is known as Panagia the Healer, the Merciful, the Graceful, the Sweet-Kissing, the Savior of Souls, the Mistress of Angels, and the Philanthropist, each name reflecting the ways communities have felt her protection and care over the centuries.

Throughout Greece, churches and chapels dedicated to the Panagia bear these unique names, each connected to local traditions and history. Below are some of the country’s most notable August 15 celebrations.

Tinos—Panagia Evangelistria

The Virgin Mary of Tinos, known as Evangelistria, or “Bearer of Good News,” was, according to tradition, discovered on January 30, 1823 after repeated failed searches, guided by the Panagia herself to the nun Pelagia at the historic Monastery of the “Lady of Angels” in Kechorvouni. This miraculous discovery transformed Tinos, part of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, into one of Greece’s most significant pilgrimage destinations.

By royal decree in 1836, the celebration of the Panagia on Tinos was established as an eight-day observance, culminating on August 23, known as the “Nine Days of the Theotokos.” Throughout the festival, hymns and laments are chanted before the epitaph and the icon, filling the island with a deeply moving spiritual atmosphere that resonates with pilgrims and visitors alike.

The journey from the port to the Church of the Annunciation, where the icon was found, remains a powerful symbol of the unbreakable bond between Hellenism and Orthodoxy, drawing thousands each year to experience the devotion, history, and culture that make Tinos a unique spiritual landmark.

The Virgin Mary of Imathia, Greece—The Panagia Soumela

The Panagia Soumela, meaning “All-Holy of Mount Mela,” stands as a sacred emblem for Pontic Greeks, though the miraculous icon was originally known as “Atheniotissa.” According to tradition, it was painted by the Evangelist Luke, taken to Athens by his disciple Ananias, and placed in a grand church dedicated to the Theotokos.

In the late 4th century, the Virgin is said to have appeared in a vision to monks Sophronios and Barnabas, declaring that she was going “to the East, to Mount Mela.” According to tradition, the icon was then miraculously transported to Pontus, where a grand monastery was established in her honor.

Following the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, the icon was carefully buried for safekeeping. In 1931, it was brought to Greece, and by 1951, it was enshrined in a newly constructed church on the slopes of Mount Vermio, near Veria. Today, the Panagia Soumela continues to draw pilgrims and devotees, carrying forward centuries of devotion, history, and cultural significance.

Mikrokastro, Kozani and August 15 celebrations

At the historic Monastery of the Panagia in Mikrokastro, August 15 draws thousands of devoted pilgrims each year. Among the most distinctive traditions is the procession of horseback pilgrims from Siatista, a custom dating back to Ottoman times.

Once a vivid display of courage and a symbol of longing for freedom, this tradition continues to captivate both participants and spectators, blending faith, history, and local culture in a deeply meaningful celebration.

The Virgin Mary of Paros—The Panagia Ekatontapyliani

In Parikia, Paros, stands the renowned Church of the Panagia Ekatontapyliani, or “of the Hundred Doors.” Tradition holds that 99 doors are visible, with the elusive hundredth said to appear only when Constantinople is reclaimed.

Legend has it that Saint Helen prayed at this site while traveling to the Holy Land, vowing to build a grand church if she discovered the True Cross—a vow fulfilled either by her or by her son, Emperor Constantine. Today, the church remains a centerpiece of faith and history on Paros, drawing pilgrims and visitors eager to experience its unique blend of legend, devotion, and architectural splendor.

Kefalonia and the Panagia Fidousa Church

Near the village of Markopoulo in the southern part of the Ionian island of Kefalonia stands the Panagia Fidousa, or the Virgin Mary of the Snakes, famed for the annual appearance of small, harmless snakes from August 6-15. According to local lore, these snakes possess miraculous powers and emerge around the icon of Panagia during the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Worshipers gather each year to witness the tiny, gray snakes, no longer than one meter, whose velvety skin and the cross-shaped formation of their heads and tongues inspire awe and reverence. Legends hold that centuries ago, nuns prayed to be transformed into snakes to escape pirate attacks, and these creatures now return annually as a sign of blessing—except in ominous years, such as 1940 and 1953.

The Church of Panagia Fidousa remains a unique spiritual destination, blending faith, folklore, and the mystique of Kefalonia’s natural and cultural heritage.

The Virgin Mary on Lesbos, Greece—Panagia Agiasotrissa

In the heart of Lesbos, the village of Agiasos offers a unique and vibrant experience during the Feast of the Assumption. The church is home to the eponymous icon of Panagia Agiasotrissa, meaning “All-Hold Healer,” attributed to the Evangelist Luke and crafted from wax and mastic, drawing pilgrims from across the region.

Many devotees undertake a 25-kilometer (15.5-mile) walk from the city of Mytilene to reach the church courtyard, where they often spend the night in prayer and anticipation. On the day of the Virgin Mary’s feast, the icon is carried in a solemn procession around the church, culminating in lively celebrations with music and dancing in the village square.

The event is a captivating blend of devotion, tradition, and communal festivity, showcasing Lesbos’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.

Festivals for the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on Karpathos—Panagia of Olympos

In the village of Olympos on Karpathos, the Feast of the Assumption is celebrated with a distinctive blend of solemnity and festivity. Religious services honor the Assumption with deep reverence, while the highlight of the day is the traditional dance held in the small square in front of the Church of Panagia.

Musicians perform the “Kato Choro,” a slow and reverent dance with measured steps that can last for hours. It combines ritual, rhythm, and community spirit. The event reflects the unique cultural identity of Olympos, where devotion and tradition merge in a captivating celebration of faith.

Amorgos and festivals honoring the Virgin Mary—Chozoviotissa Monastery

Perched dramatically on a 300-meter cliff, Amorgos is home to the historic Chozoviotissa Monastery—literally “of Hozova”—dedicated to the Virgin Mary and celebrated each year on August 15. Built in 1088 AD by Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, the monastery is linked to two enduring traditions surrounding the arrival of its sacred icon.

One tradition holds that a devout woman from Hozova in Palestine placed the icon in a boat to protect it from iconoclasts. Another suggests that monks, fleeing persecution from the monastery of Hotzeva near Jericho, brought the icon with them. Along the way, thieves desecrated it, cutting it in two and casting it into the sea.

Miraculously, the pieces arrived beneath the cliff of Amorgos and reunited seamlessly, whether through divine intervention or the monks’ care. Following this event, the monastery was built at the site indicated by the Virgin. A chisel long embedded in the cliff, believed to mark the chosen location, fell in 1952, serving as a tangible reminder of the legend and the monastery’s storied past.

Honoring the Virgin Mary on Nisyros, Greece—Panagia Spiliani

The island of Nisyros hosts one of the most distinctive and extended celebrations of the Virgin Mary, beginning on August 6 with the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Savior. Central to the tradition are women known as the “Enniameritisses,” or “nine-day women,” who take a leading role in the rituals. Their title refers to the strict, nine-day period of intense devotion and ceremonial ritual they follow leading up to August 15.

They Enniameritisses reside in the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani, meaning “Virgin Mary of the Cave,” located within the Knights’ Castle, where they carefully clean the sacred spaces and objects and participate in informal worship alongside formal religious services. Observing strict fasting, performing 300 prostrations every 24 hours, and chanting prayers, their devotion sets the spiritual tone for the festival.

On August 15, after the service, priests carry the icon into the village to bless the celebrations, with the Enniameritisses leading the way, carrying trays of koliva (boiled wheat), and opening the path for the sacred icon. Once the icon reaches the village, the festivities unfold in full, with traditional “koupas” dances, singing, and abundant wine, while the women quietly withdraw, having fulfilled their sacred duties.

Skiathos and the Virgin Mary—Evangelistria Monastery

Nestled among lush greenery at the mouth of the Lechouni stream, near its springs in Agalianou and beneath the island’s highest peak, Karaflytzanaka, lies the Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin, known locally as Evangelistria—meaning “Bringer of Good News,” in reference to the Archangel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would conceive and bear the Baby Jesus, the Son of God.

Reconstruction of the monastery began in 1794, led by a small group of monks from the “Kolivades” movement, a reformist Orthodox community that had left Mount Athos to advocate a return to the Church’s ancient traditions. They emphasized stricter observance of memorial services, monastic discipline, and liturgical practices, seeking to restore spiritual rigor to Orthodox life.

Every year, thousands of pilgrims gather on August 15, and on the eve, the Virgin’s epitaph procession fills the monastery with profound devotion, accompanied by heartfelt hymns to the Theotokos. The monastery celebrates two major feasts annually—March 25 and August 15—drawing visitors eager to witness both its spiritual and historical significance.

Additional events in observance of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary across Greece

Beyond the major monasteries and iconic sites, many towns and islands host their own distinctive festivities honoring the Virgin Mary, each reflecting local traditions, history, and community spirit:

• Patmos—The Virgin Mary’s epitaph: Monks preserve the Byzantine-rooted tradition of carrying the gold-embroidered epitaph through the island’s alleys, accompanied by the continuous ringing of monastery and church bells.

• Koufonisia—By boat to Panagia: On August 15, Kato Koufonisi honors the Virgin Mary after the religious service with food offerings and spirited boat races. Locals compete to see which caique reaches Ano Koufonisi first, blending devotion with lively maritime tradition.

• Andros—Panagia Faneromeni: Near the village of Kochylou, Faneromeni Castle hosts major festivities at the Panagia Faneromeni, a shrine dedicated to the “Virgin Mary who Reveals Herself,” where visitors can join both religious observances and lively community events within the castle grounds.

• Rhodes—Panagia Kremasti: On this island, devotion to the Virgin Mary comes alive through longstanding local customs and legends, with the main feast held at Kremasti, a church dedicated to the “Virgin Mary of the Hanging,” dramatically perched above the surrounding landscape and offering sweeping views.

• Pyrgi, Chios—Religious devotion and festivities: Among its 50 churches, Pyrgi celebrates the Assumption at Panagia Church. Festivities culminate in the energetic “Pyrgousikos” dance, a lively traditional folk dance of the region, performed in a circle to celebrate community, faith, and joy.

• Thassos—The Virgin Mary’s feast table: In the village of Panagia, pilgrims gather at the Holy Church of the Assumption for a communal meal featuring potatoes, rice, beef, and stew. Following the icon procession, dances, local dishes, and wine extend the celebration into the churchyard.

• Zagorochoria—Epirote festivities in honor of the Virgin: Villages such as Vitsa and Tsepelovo hold three-day festivities, with traditional Epirote dances and music. While the first two days welcome all, the final day is reserved for locals, highlighting regional customs and communal pride.