Dormition of Virgin Mary

The Celebrations of August 15th

The Dormition of Virgin Mary takes place on August 15th andif you stay with us at our small hotel then this is an experience you shouldn't miss. The Dormition of Our Holy Lady Theotokos is the biggest religious feast in Greece after Easter.

Theotokos means the one who gave birth to God. I think the fact that this name is commonly used about Jesus’ mother in Greece says a lot about the respect the Greeks have for her – and for mothers in general. A woman who gave birth to God. The fact that she gave birth is more important than that she supposedly was a virgin – the Greeks don’t use the term virgin to describe Maria. She’s most commonly called Panayia – which means the saint above all saints.

According to the Bible, when Jesus was hanging on the cross he asked his disciple John to take care of his mother. When she was on her death bed all the disciples returned from their missions back to Palestine to stay with her, and at the moment of her death Jesus himself descended to carry her soul with him into Heaven. Maria’s body was laid in a tomb, but three days later, when the Apostle Thomas came and wished to see her body, the tomb was empty. An angel confirmed her bodily assumption.

Today is the name day of Maria (often called Marika or Maro), Mario, Panayiota (Yiota) and Panayiotis (Yiotis or Panos).

Locally, this feast is celebrated in Peramos and in Iraklitsa. In Peramos the small church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) is situated on your right hand side as you enter the village via the main road from Kavala. The days before and on the 15th of August there will be a huge fair in the pine tree park next to the church. There is also a fair along the waterside in Iraklitsa.

As most Greeks take holiday around the 15th of August these villages are absolutely packed and you need to book your stay well in advance.

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Nea Peramos

Crying Virgin Mary Icon

The Greek Religion

Other National Holidays in Greece