Saint Spyridon Celebration - Corfu Town

Corfu's patron saint is St Spyridon and his mummified body lies in the church dedicated to him in Corfu Town. He was The Bishop of Cyprus and was famous for performing miracles. He took part in the first Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325AD and died a martyr's death shortly afterwards. His remains were taken to Constantinople and interred in the Church of the Holy Apostles until 1453 when the city fell to the Turks and he was brought to Corfu, along with the remains of Saint Theodocia. It is said that when the Turks attacked the island on August 11, 1716, Saint Spiridon appeared with a lighted torch and scared the invaders away. That day is also one of the days which commemorate Saint Spiridon (the others are Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday when Corfiots celebrate him saving the island from the plague and an epidemic). Many boys on the island are named Spiridon (Spiros) in his honour and celebrate their name day on December 12th.