For three days around 12 December the patron saint's relics stand at the door of his church, open day and night, for the island to pay its respects. Next: Saturday 12 December 2026.
When: 12 December, from the morning of the 11th to the afternoon of the 13th. Where: Saint Spyridon's church, in the old town.
Services round the clock, and a line to venerate the relics.
On the morning of 11 December, after a service of supplication, the relics are taken from their casket and set upright at the door of the shrine. Vespers follow each evening, a vigil runs into the small hours, and on the 12th the festal liturgy is sung in the morning, often with visiting bishops. On the afternoon of the 13th the relics go back into their casket, the custom Corfiots call the basmata. There is no procession round the town at this feast: those are the four of the year.
In the line at the church door, or simply look in.
The relics are venerated at the door of the shrine, so the line forms in the lane outside. The hours of the services are the busiest; as the church stays open through the night, an earlier or later visit is possible. Nobody has to venerate: looking in quietly is fine.
Any time from the 11th to the 13th.
In 2025 the relics came out at 11:00 on the 11th and went back at 16:00 on the 13th; vespers were at 18:30 and the festal liturgy began at 07:45 on the 12th, after a vigil from 01:00 to 03:30. The Holy Metropolis publishes each year's programme shortly before.
A great feast, but no public holiday.
It is the name day of everyone called Spyros or Spyridoula, and Corfu has many of them: wish them «Chronia polla». In the church dress as for any Orthodox service, with shoulders and knees covered, keep your voice low, and take photographs only without flash and away from the services.
Checked on 14 November 2026.