The ceremony of the Holy Pedilavium, one of Greece’s oldest religious customs associated with Holy Week, will be open to the public for the first time in Patmos, after three years of being held behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
The ceremony is a representation of the action of Jesus, before the beginning of the Last Supper, when he washed the feet of his disciples to teach humility and love to fellow human beings. The ceremony started on the island of Apocalypse about 400 years ago, and since then it has been revived every year, even during the Turkish occupation, on the morning of Maundy Thursday. As soon as the Divine Liturgy is finished in the Monastery of Agios Ioannis the Theologian, a procession of priests and monks begins towards the square of Emmanuel Xanthou in Patmos’ Chora.
Photo: Lorenzo Spoleti/ Unsplash
In the square, the Abbot of the Monastery, representing Christ, washes the feet of 12 priests who symbolize His disciples. “This centuries-old custom is part of the traditions that make Easter in Patmos unique. Realizing the strong demand of the world for Patmos and its customs, we are promoting the historicity and religiosity of the island which has emerged as a pole of attraction for thousands of travelers from all over the world, in the off-season, as well”, says the Deputy Mayor of Tourism of Patmos, Nikos Koutouzos.
Photo: Pepi Nikolopoulou/ Unsplash
In the past, Conde Nast Traveler ranked Patmos among the best Greek islands for 2023 and indeed as the top religious destination in Greece for its overwhelming and transcendental atmosphere.
The popular travel media typically mentions that “Patmos has an undefined texture and an eerie aura emanating from its crown, the medieval Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. The imposing castle-monastery overflows with Byzantine and sacred monuments and relics, while it was named after John the Theologian who wrote the Book of Revelation in the Holy Cave.”
Latest News
Greek Property Renovation Surge amid Economic Constraints
This has led to a notable escalation in renovation costs, with average prices per square meter exceeding previous norms and reaching even 1,000 euros in premium locations
RRF: Additional €5.1bln Funds for Subsidies to Greece in 2025
By April 22, funds totaling 5.75 billion euros had been transferred for approved projects of the Recovery Fund to entities within and outside the general government and final recipients
OECD: Greek Economy Resilient with 2% Growth Forecast for 2024
However, the OECD highlights challenges including the need to enhance productivity and fiscal adjustment due to high debt levels.
Challenges and Delays in Greece’s Hydrocarbon Exploration
Sources disclose that the petroleum companies holding the concessions are seeking partners to jointly invest and share the costs of exploration and drilling.
Greek Beach Visitors Can Report Violations on New ‘MyCoast’ App
Greek authorities hope the newly-launched, free ‘MyCoast’ app will help clamp down on public beach violations
BoG Figures Confirm Banner Year for Greek Tourism in 2023
20.6 billion euros in related revenues topped the previous year’s figure by 16.5%
Piraeus Bank to Propose First Dividend in 16 Years
Piraeus Bank has forecast profits of roughly 900 million euros this year, rising to one billion euros next year
Eurostat: Inflation in Greece Eases to 3.2% in April; 2.4% in Eurozone
The rate of increase for food prices was up by 4.9% in April 2024, compared to 4.8% in the previous month
ELSTAT Feb. Retail Turnover Drops by 3.8%, Sales Volume Plummets by 9.8%
Additionally, the seasonally adjusted General Volume Index for Feb. 2024 experienced a 3.8% decrease compared to the previous month of the same year
Greek Buyers Lead Return to Vacation Home Market
In the last six months, Greeks have made a surge into the vacation home market, notably without relying on loans