Dear Guests,
Welcome to the ever hospitable Corfu. Here, the Easter celebrations encapsulate the long history and rich tradition of the place.
Corfu Easter is presented as a series of ancient ceremonies and customs of unique beauty, centred around the enchanting setting of the Old Town - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Corfu has always been a crossroads of cultures. The Byzantine tradition, combined with the Western influence and the deep-rooted Greekness, formed a unique character from which the solemn and unique Corfu Easter was born. The philharmonic bands, the choirs, the clergy, the schoolchildren, the scouts,
the guides, the Red Cross and other institutions are all committed participants in the long Easter ritual with roots going back five centuries.
Residents and visitors are both companions and participants.
The city is flooded with the epitaphs of the historic churches, the thrilling, mournful sounds of brass and percussion and the melodious voices of the choirs, while the air smells of lilac and myrrh, before the ancient custom of throwing the "boti", promises the joyful event of the Resurrection.
Besides Easter in the city, in the villages of Corfu, in their neighbourhoods and the flowering fields, the epitaphs, accompanied by the local philharmonic bands, create their own sweet, moving atmosphere.
Dear guests, I invite you to join us for Easter on Corfu. To become a part of the devotion and emotion that faith and culture have bequeathed to us. Live a special experience through the sounds, melodies and atmosphere of the place.
Happy Easter!

The Mayor of Central Corfu and the Diapontian Islands
Stefanos Penintarchou Poulimenos

Brief Historical Note

Corfu lies at the extreme north-west of Greece. It was part of the Byzantine (or Eastern Roman) Empire until the year 1204. In later times, until 1864, the island came under the domination of various western powers.
The most notable was the four-century period of Venetian rule (1386-1797), which shaped to a considerable degree the identity of these parts. The island never passed under Ottoman occupation. During the Venetian rule, the town’s Grand Council would determine the usage of public space and organise religious and lay festivals that reflected the cast of mind and collective consciousness of the various population groups throughout the island. Already from the latter 1400s the town authorities, in collaboration with the local Orthodox and Catholic clergy, had begun to institute and gradually embed the annual cycle of public religious expression.
As one of the great ritual festivals of Christendom, Easter week held pride of place among commemorative festivals. The Corfiot Easter celebrations may be said to have three fundamental characteristics for people: the uniqueness and wealth of customs; real and living relationship with a deep tradition; and the sense of continuity, attested by the participation in them of one and all inhabitants of Corfu Town, the protagonist and ideal backdrop of the festival.
As time passed, Easter celebrations multiplied. This means that nowadays there is a noted presence in them of Corfiots of every age. People participate in those great civil-cum-religious rituals, each person having a full understanding of their role and mission. Participation is ensured through local parishes, the brass marching bands of the philharmonic orchestras (a custom initially attached to the musical accompaniment of religious processions by military bands that dates at least to the time of Venetian rule), the organised choral ensembles, and the Red Cross, Scouts, Guides and other associations.
Easter time in Corfu is a complex phenomenon of religious worship, unique in magnificence and popular participation, that has been organised here for at least five hundred years. It is an admixture of the old Byzantine ritual with influences from Venetian religious example, which was in itself rooted in Byzantine prominence. That ritual was embodied in the public ceremonies arranged then by the town itself, and nowadays organised by collaboration between the Town Council and Church.
One more defining characteristic of Easter here is that already since the time of Venetian rule, the local Catholic Archdiocese had agreed to celebrate Easter on the same day with the Orthodox Church - and this custom is still observed.
Alongside the ancient and established religious rituals, more recent years have seen the initiation of events centred on music and literature, in harmony with the season’s spirit, that enhance the quality of the festivities. These are largely organised by philharmonic orchestras, choral societies and cultural associations.
Villages throughout the island also celebrate Easter time in unique and beautiful fashion in the splendid greenery of the Corfiot springtime. There are impressive religious processions on the Resurrection that usually take place during the week after Easter Sunday. This is one more old Byzantine custom that may be connected with the official blessing of fields by the Church in April or May. It is still extant only on the monastic community of Mount Athos, a few Cycladic Islands, and among islanders of the Ionian
Sea, where the Orient and Occident can enjoy peaceful coexistence.

Easter in the Corfu Town

Friday of Lent (before Lazarus Saturday)

18:00  Likio Ellinidon (folkore dancers) of Corfu at the Church of Saint John (Corfu town) and in Saint Spyridon's Square.

20:30  Religious concert by the Corfu Choir at the peristyle of the Palace of SS Michael and George.

20:30  Religious concert by the Corfu Plucked String Orchestra at the Holy Church of St George in the Old Fortress.

Lazarus Saturday

11:30  Choirs from all parts of the island of Corfu meet at the Holy Church of Saint Nikolaos of the Elders and start chanting the “Lazarus Carols” at various parts of the Old Town of Corfu.

20:30  Concert by the oldest Philharmonic of Corfu, the Philharmonic Society of Corfu, at the Municipal Theatre.

Palm Sunday

11:00  Litany of St Spyridon’s relic celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, along the perimeter of the Old Town of Corfu, in remembrance of his miracle of saving Corfu from plague in 1629.

20:30  Concert by the “Kapodistrias” Philharmonic and the choir of Corfu Metropolitan Church at the Holy Church of St George in the Old Fortress.

Holy Monday

21:00  Concert by the “Mantzaros” Philharmonic dedicated to the Argentine composer Ariel Ramirez, at the Municipal Theatre.

21:00  Religious music concert by the Kinopiastes Philharmonic at the Catholic Cathedral of SS Jacob and Christopher (Duomo).

Holy Tuesday

20:00  Religious music concert by the Philharmonic of Korakiana, at the Holy Catholic Church of St Francis of Assisi.

20:30  Concert of the Corfu Conservatory by the Brass Ensemble at the Holy Church of St George in the Old Fortress.

21:30  Poetic and musical night gala entitled “From Golgotha to the Resurrection”, at the peristyle of the Palace of SS Michael and George.

Holy Wednesday

19:00  The Ecclesiastical Music Choir of the Orthodox Cathedral of Corfu chants the Maundry (Footwashing Service) celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, at the Holy Church of Aghioi Pantes in the old town.

20:00  Concert by the Philharmonic of Skripero at the Holy Church of St George in the Old Fortress.

21:00  Religious music concert by the Municipal Choir "San Giacomo" and the Ionian Islands Symphony Orchestra, at the Municipal Theatre.

Holy Thursday

20:00  The ritual of Maundry (Footwashing) at the Catholic Cathedral of SS Jacob and Christopher (Duomo). His Eminence the Catholic Archbishop f. Georgios Altouvas washes the feet of twelve children, and the ceremony of the Holy Hour followslate at night.

Holy Friday

All city churches organise the procession of their Epitaphs, which take place in an appointed order, with the participation of musical ensembles, choirs, schools, and scouts. The churches’ choirs chant the appropriate hymns, and the philharmonic bands play the following oeuvres, accompanying the Epitaphs in the streets of old town: Albinoni- Adagio, Abel Moreno Gomez- La Madruga, G. Verdi- Marcia Funebre, Joaquin Rodrigo-Aranjuez, Mariani- Sventura, Chopin- Marche Funèbre.

18:00  H.C. of Resurrection (1st municipal cemetery), Holy Monastery of SS Theodori (Stratia)

18:30  H.C. of St Paraskevi (Porta Remounda - Οld Τown)

19:00  H.C. of St Antonios (Spilia), H.C. of St Triada (Holy Trinity, Garitsa), H.C. of St Konstantinos and Eleni (Koulines), H.C. of Koimiseos (Dormition) of Mamali (Koyievinas Hill), H.C. of SS Jason and Sosipatros (Gartitsa)

19:15  H.C. of St Sophia (Jewish Quarter), H.C. of Theotokos Vlacheraina (Garitsa)

19:30  H.C. of St Eleftherios (Cofinetta - Οld Τown), H.C. of St Spyridon of San Rocco (Kotselas - Νew Τown), H.C. of the Three Martyrs (Garitsa), H.C. of Faneromeni/ Panaghia ton Xenon (Old Town)

20:00  H.C. of St. Vasileios (Old Town), H.C. of St Ioannis of Lazos (Kefalomandouko), H.C. of St Barbaros (Potamos), H.C. of St Nikolaos of Alikes (Alikes Potamou), H.C. of SS Pantes (Gouvia)

20:15  H.C. of St Nikolaos of the Elders (Campiello - Old Town)

20:30  H.C. of St. Ioannis (Old Town)

20:45  Catholic Cathedral of the SS Jacob and Christopher

21:00  H.C. of St Spyridon. Procession of the Epitaph inside the church, accompanied by the Philharmonic Society of Corfu, H.C. of St Triada (Holy Trinity, Kontokali)

22:15  H.C. of Spilaiotissa, Metropolitan Church (Spilia- Old Town)

Holy Saturday

06:00  Representation of the Earthquake which followed the Resurrection of Christ at the H.C. of Panaghia ton Xenon in the heart of the Old Town.

09:00  Litany of the Holy Relic of St Spyridon and procession of the Epitaph of  St Spyridon Church. It is the oldest litany of St Spyridon dated before the year 1553, in commemoration of his miracle to save Corfu from famine. Epitaph procession that takes place on Holy Saturday morning due to an old tradition. The three philharmonics of the city accompany the litany and the Epitaph with oeuvres of: Franco Faccio- Amleto, Cesare de Michelis- Calde Lacrime, DimitrisAndronis- In the Kingdom of Pluto, Beethoven- Sinfonia Eroica. After the litany, the relic of St Spyridon stands for three days in front of the gate of his church for worship.

11:00  After the litany, the Vespers of Resurrection take place at the Metropolitan Church and exactly at 11.00 all churches ring their bells joyfully. At the same time, all people throw earthenware pots from their windows and balconies, filled with water. This is the very old custom of “First Resurrection” symbolising the victory of life over death.

11:01  At the Pinia area, in the heart of old town (Nikiforou Theotoki and Kolla str.) the custom of “Mastella” takes place. In a big ornamented barrel full of water, the passersby throw coins and make a wish. After the bells ringing for the First Resurrection, the first man to jump into the barrel takes what it has inside: money and a …bath.

21:00  Service of the Easter Wake at the Catholic Cathedral (Duomo) accompanied by choir and church organ, celebrated by His Eminence the Catholic Archbishop f. Georgios Altouvas. The service lasts until 23.00.

22:00  Reception of the Holy Light from the Holy Sepulchre. It takes place at Pentofanaro in Liston, at the presence of local authorities. The Holy Light is transferred to the H.C. of St Paraskevi in Porta Remounda. There, the Service of Resurrection takes place, celebrated by His Eminence the Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu. Over the last years, the Catholic Archbishop -interrupting his service- receives the Holy Light from the Orthodox Metropolitan during its transportation to the Church of St. Paraskevi.

23.00  Service of Resurrection and start of all-night vigil at the H.C. of St Paraskevi in Porta Remounda.

23:40  The Resurrection Service is transferred to the Kiosk at the upper Spianada square, celebrated by His Eminence the Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu. At midnight, all people chant the Resurrection Hymn "Christ is risen" in a spectacular atmosphere of a sky full of fireworks and under the sounds of the town’s philharmonics playing simultaneously a joyful march. The Service of Resurrection at night takes place in various churches all over the city of Corfu.

Great and Holy Easter

09:00-11:00  The Resurrection Service takes place in the morning, in most churches of Corfu, as per an old tradition. Furthermore, a litany of the icon of Christ’s Resurrection takes place, according to the Byzantine tradition kept alive also in the Aegean islands and the Slavic Orthodox countries.

Procession of the icon of Resurrection in Corfu Town

07:30  H.C. St. Sophia (Jewish Quarter, Old Town)

07:45  Holy Metropolitan Church of Spileotissa (Spilia - Old Town)

08:00  H.C. of SS Pantes (Liston - Old Town)

08:15  H.C. of St Spyridon San Rocco (Kotselas - New Town)

08:30  H.C. of St Eleftherios (Cofinetta – Old Town), H.C. of Ascension (Analipsis, Kanoni), H.C. of St George (Mandouki), H.C. of TheotokosVlacheraina (Garitsa)

08:45  H.C. of St Vasileios (Pinia - Old Town), H.C. of St Paraskevi (Porta Remounda - Old Town)

09:00  H.C. Panaghia ton Xenon (Old Town), H.C. of St Nikolaos of the Elders (Campiello - Old Town), H.C. of St Ioannis (Old Town), H.C. of St Antonios (Spilia - Old Town)

10:00  Holy Church of St Spyridon with the participation of the two oldest Philharmonics of Corfu.

18:00 H.C. of St Triada (Garitsa)

19:30 Vespers of Love at the Metropolitan Church, celebrated by His Eminence the Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, during which the Gospel is read in all major languages.

Renewal Tuesday

18:00  Placement of the Holy Relic of St Spyridon in his sarcophagus at the presence of authorities and the participation of the two oldest philharmonics of the city. This ritual is called “Basmata”.

Easter traditions in the villages

During Easter, several of our Municipality’s Communities organise important cultural events, which amplify the prayerful atmosphere.
On Good Friday, the Epitaph processions take place with the accompaniment of the Philharmonics, while on Holy Saturday the Resurrection Ritual is traditionally celebrated in the central squares of the villages with the participation of all residents and many visitors.
The procession of the Resurrection Icon of each parish takes place on Easter Sunday in the morning, or afternoon during the Vespers of Love, or on “New Monday”.
The Resurrection period ends before the Ascension Vespers (Wednesday evening), when according to the local tradition the parishes carry out the procession of the Resurrection Icon, which is then stored inside the Church, until the next Resurrection.

Municipal Unit of Achilleion

On Lazarus Saturday, from 5 pm onwards, next to the church of Panaghia in the center of the village of Kinopiastes, the women of the Parish make Vaia (ornaments of palm leaves), chanting a religious folk song.
On Holy Friday, the custom of snails revives at the village of Varipatades. According to the custom, the shells of hundreds of snails are filled with oil and cotton which is used as a wick. These shells are placed lit on the route of the Epitaph procession, producing a deeply ambient atmosphere. The Epitaph processions in the villages of Kinopiastes, Chrysida and Gastouriare accompanied by the Philharmonics of Kinopiastes and Gastouri.
On Renewal Monday the litany taking place in Benitses, is accompanied by a philharmonic. A great litany starts from the village of Kinopiastes towards Chrisida. The litany of the village of Viros arrives by boat to the picturesque Pontikonissi. Furthermore, on Thomas Sunday, there are litanies taking place at Gastouri, Aghioi Deka and Kinopiastes, while on Sunday of Myrrh-Bearing Women, are held at Stavros and Benitses.

Municipal Unit Paleokastriton

On Holy Friday, the procession of the Epitaph starts in the morning at the Holy Monastery of Paleokastritsa and heads to the port of Alipa, with the participation of Lakones Philharmonic and the Lakones Choir.
At night, both the philharmonic and the choir, escort the Epitaph at the village of Lakones. At the village of Liapades, the Epitaph procession of both churches is accompanied by the Choir and the Philharmonic of Liapades and at the village of Skripero it is accompanied by the Philharmonic of Skripero. The Resurrection Ritual at the village of Lakones takes place with the participation of the Lakones Philharmonic and the Lakones Choir, while at the village of Liapades with the participation of Liapades Choir and
at the village of Skripero with the participation of its Philharmonic.
On Renewal Monday, a great litany takes place at the village of Doukades and at the village of Skripero with the participation of the Skripero Philharmonic. There is also a litany taking place at the village of Makrades, with the participation of Lakones Philharmonic, followed by a traditional fete.
On Thomas Sunday, at the village of Krini, the litany is accompanied by a philharmonic and a choir, followed by a traditional fete at the village’s square with the participation of the local dancing club. On Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women, there is a litany taking place at the village of Liapades with the participation of the local choir, followed by a traditional fete. On Renewal Friday, there is an important traditional fete, at the Holy Monastery of Paleokastritsa, with the participation of the local Choir and the Choir of the Lakones Parish.

Municipal Unit of Pareli

On Renewal Monday, litanies start from the villages of Vatos, Giannades, Kokkini and Pelekas heading to picturesque small churches in the area, where the Holy Service is ministered. On the evening, traditional fetes take place at the villages of Vatos and Pelekas. Furthermore, on Thomas Sunday a litany takes place at the village of Marmaro and on Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women, a litany takes place at the village of Sinarades, followed by a traditional fete.

Municipal Unit of Feakes

On Holy Friday, the procession of the Epitaph at the village of Pouladesis accompanied by the Korakiana Philharmonic. The Epitaph of the village of Ano Korakiana is accompanied by the local Philharmonic and Choir. On Renewal Monday, at the village of Ano Korakiana, at 11.00 a.m., one of the oldest litanies of rural Corfu takes place, accompanied by the local Philharmonic. Also, at the village of Gazatika, there is a litany in the evening, accompanied by a philharmonic. On Renewal Tuesday a litany takes place at the village of Aghios Markos, accompanied by the Korakiana Philharmonic. Furthermore, on Renewal Friday, at the village of Kato Korakiana a litany takes place from the celebrating church of Life-giving Spring, and on Thomas Sunday there is another litany at the village of Sokraki.

Diapontian Islands: Othonoi, Ereikousa and Mathraki

In these islands, Easter is celebrated with reverence to tradition. The hymns sung in the small churches enhance the atmosphere of devoutness; the Epitaphs are ornamented with local flowers and followed by all residents, while the Resurrection has the smells and perfumes of lilacs!