Ceremonies

1ST of January
New Year (protochronia) and St basil’s day.
07.00 to 10.00 hours

In the small Byzantine church of Aghios Vassilis ( St Basil) in Hora behind the taverna Olympia on Platia Lesvia.
In the course of the say the Greeks give each other presents, just as is done at Christmas in the western world. The priests visit their parishioners houses to bless the place and people. The first guest who steps over the threshold in the New Year is of great importance to Greeks. Will he bring good luck or bad? To encourage the good luck, a ripe pomegranate is smashed on the floor at the moment the church bells ring in the New Year. Its many seeds symbolize plenty.

6th of January
EPIPHANY (THEOPHANIA)
05.00 to 07.00
In the islands main churches

While in the western world it is the Three Wise Men we think of on this day, for the Greek-Orthodox Church it is a celebration of the appearance of the Divine light in its triune form, which came down to earth in the shape of a dove. At the same time the Baptist of Jesus by John the Baptist in the river Jordan is remembered (combining the themes of spirit and water). This is why in Greece the waters are blessed and all who sail on them. Liturgically, the day ends the celebration of Christmas and begins the Easter and Passion cycle.

At about 10.00 o’clock a procession leaves from the church of Aghios Phokas, walking down to the harbour. Across from the caf? bar Arion, the abbot of the Monastery of St John and his monks assemble on a wooden platform, where the abbot blesses the water with a cross and asks for a year rich in water. He then throws the cross into the sea, and the most courage’s young men and boys jump into the icy cold water, to retrieve the cross and hand it back to the abbot who repeats the ceremony several times.

7th of March
RUNION OF THE DODECANESE WITH GREECE
Ensomatosis
Starting at 10.30 hours
In the Monastery of St John

After 400 years of Turkish and 32 years of Italian rule over the Dodecanese, the final union with the Greek motherland took place on the 7th of March 1947. At 10.30. hrs a memorial and thanksgiving is held in the Monastery of St John in Hora. After a rural wreath is laid on the grave of Emmanouil Xanthos, the Patmos-born fighter for liberty during the Greek Revolution of 1821.

25th of March
National Holiday and Day of the Annunction
07.30 - 10.30 hours
In the Monastery of St john
08.00 - 10.30 hours
In the Evangelismos church of Hora and Ano Kambos.

Day of the Annunction (evangelismos) and a national holiday (ethniki yiorti), anniversary of the outbreak of the 1821 Revolution of the 1821 Revolution. On this day began the Greek uprising against Turkish rule. Helped along by the Great Powers, lord Byron, it ended with victory in 1832.The great power then proceeded to divide up this zone of influence as best suited themselves, and left the Dodekanese some time longer under Turkish rule. Easter Season.

Click hear for Easter on patmos.

19th of July
18.30-19.30 hours
In the chapel of Prophitis Ilias,the highest mountain or hill on the island.

Prophitis Ilias has a chapel on the highest mountain or hill on every island of Greece.

20th of july
Day of the Prophet Elias (Prophitis Ilias)
7.00-10.00 hours
In the chapel of Prophitis Ilias ,the highest mountain on the island.

Elias was a prophet in the Old Testament. In the 8th century BC he predicted a period of draught and famine to King Ahab, who had relapsed and worshipped pagan gods again. When drought was followed by a period of torrential rains, Elias fled to a high mountain, where God appeared to him. After Ahab’s death, Elias drove into heaven in a flaming chariot. This is the reason why the highest mountain on every island is called Prophitis Ilias.

27th of July
Day of St Pandeleimon
07.00 to 10.00 hours
In the small chapel on the island of Hiliomodi.

Pandeleimon, once personal physician to the Emperor Maximilian in Asia Minor, was tortured and beheaded in the year 304 because of his faith in Christ. Since then he has been the patron saint of the disabled, particularly the blind and the lame.

6th of August
Day of Transfiguration of Christ
07.00-10.00 hours
In the Metamorphosis chapel in the village of Christos and in the chapel of Christos in the Nunnery of Evangelismos.

15th of August
Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
07.00-10.30 hours
In the church of Megali Panaghia and Diassozoussa and every church dedicated to The Virgin Mary.

Everywhere in Greece this date is the most important date after Easter celebrations. In the evening a public festival begins in Ano and Kato Kambos continuing for many hours.

21st of October
Day of the Blessed Christodoulos.
06.00 - 11.00 hours
In the Monastery of St John.

On this day osios Christodoulos’ remains were taken to the monastery of St John as he wished in his will. The Blessed Christodoulos died on the 16th of March in 1093 and it took a few years for his remains to be transferred to Patmos on this date.

28th of October
National Holiday.
Thanksgiving ceremony starting at 10.00 hours In the Monastery of St John.

On this day the Greeks celebrate the official “NO” the Greek government answered to the Italians in 1940 when they demanded unconditional surrender to their troops in WW2.