Easter - Corfu

Easter on Corfu is the biggest and most famous celebration of the year. And special it is! Hundred of thousands of people will gather together on Corfu to be a part of it. If you want holiday accommodation during Easter, you better be quick! Greeks - and other people - from all over the world come to the island to celebrate Easter. Below you can find a list of processions and celebrations during the busiest period of the year on Corfu.

Saturday of Lazarus (before Palm Sunday)

Carols for Lazarus (11.30).
Philharmonic Society concert at the Municipality Theatre (20.30)

Palm Sunday

Procession of the Holy Relic of St. Spyridon in memory of His miracle to relieve the Island from the deadly plague in 1629 (11.00)
Service of the “bridegroom” in all Corfu Town churches (19.30)
The “IOANNIS CAPODISTRIAS” Philharmonic Society and the Corfu choir give a recital at the Byzantine church of St. George in the Old Fortress (20.30)

Holy Week (Before Easter)
Monday

The Philharmonic Society “MANTZAROS” gives a concert at the Roman Catholic Cathedral. (21.00)

Tuesday

Service of the “Bridegroom” in all Corfu Town churches (19.30)

Wednesday

Service of the “Last Supper” in all Corfu Town churches. (19.30)
Concert of the choir “SAN GIACOMO” with religious music, established in 1989. (21.00)

Thursday

Concert by the Metropolitan Church choir “ST. ARSENIOS” at the Church of “Ag. PANTON” and later the service of the PASSION (19.00)

Good Friday

Service of the “DESCENT FROM THE CROSS” in all Corfu Churches (11.00)
FUNERAL PROCESSIONS (EPITAFIOS) all over Corfu

Easter Saturday

At the Church “Panagia ton Xenon” (St.Spyridon Church square), an artificial earthquake symbolizes the first resurrection (06.00)

The 1st Resurrection (11.00)
  • Throwing of pots and other earthenware items from windows and doors at all Corfu houses in the Town. It is based on the phrase of the Holy Bible : “I will crush them as if they were made of clay”
  • Joyous celebrations take place with all the philharmonic bands of the island playing happy tunes in all the streets
  • Service of the Resurrection at the Roman Catholic Cathedral (Duomo) accompanied by an organ and celebrated by the Roman Catholic Archbishop (21.00)
  • Reception of the Light from The Holy Grave at the “Pendofanaro” (South Liston) area (22.00)
  • The Resurrection Service at the St. Paraskevi Church (Porta Remunda) (23.00)
  • Arrival of all the bands and the scouts at the large bandstand on the Upper Esplanade with the presence of the Metropolitan Bishop of Corfu Mr. Nektarios with the Holy Light (23.45)
  • Service of the Resurrection with the bands playing and bell-ringing at all churches. Fireworks illuminate the Corfu night. (00.00)
Easter Sunday

In Corfu Town and at all villages in the morning there is a procession of the “represented resurrection” from the churches which takes place in the vicinity of the particular church.
Later it becomes a family congregation for lunch, lamb on the spit is the tradition! The men deal with this while the women prepare salads, potatoes and the sweets

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