At dawn on Holy Saturday a church in the old town re-enacts the earthquake of the Resurrection: a roar of banging pews and swinging lamps. Next: Saturday 1 May 2027, 06:00.
When: Holy Saturday, at dawn. Where: Panagia ton Xenon, on Nikiforou Theotoki by Saint Spyridon's square.
A noisy re-enactment during the dawn service.
The Gospel tells of an earthquake at the Resurrection. At Panagia ton Xenon, Our Lady of the Foreigners, it is re-enacted during the dawn service: when the reading from the Apostle ends, the faithful bang on the pews and the icons and oil lamps are shaken, until the church seems to tremble.
Inside if you are early, else in the street outside.
The church fills early, and others follow the moment from the street and the square outside, where the noise carries well.
Before 06:00.
It has been at 06:00 in recent years' programmes. The morning goes on with Saint Spyridon's procession at 09:00 and the botides at 11:00, so many make a morning of it.
A service, not a show: dress and behave as in church.
Keep shoulders and knees covered and phones silent; film, if at all, without flash and without blocking the faithful. The noise lasts a moment, and then the service carries on.
Checked on 14 November 2026.