Assumption of Mary: 3 ideal islands to escape to
August 15th , also known as “Easter of summer”. The holiday of 15 August is an important holiday in Greece and has a special spiritual and cultural significance.
Religious Holiday
The feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is one of the greatest religious feasts in the Orthodox Church. Believers attend churches and temples to commemorate this day.
Cultural events
The feast of Our Lady has the potential to unite families and communities. In many regions of Greece, large celebrations take place, with traditional feasts, music, and dancing, creating an atmosphere of joy and unity.
Summer Holidays
August 15 marks the peak of the summer season in Greece. It is the period when many Greeks have holidays, and their vacations are in full swing. Therefore, this holiday offers an excellent opportunity for travel.
Celebrating this day on a Greek island will be the best experience you could have and create the most beautiful memories.
Three Greek islands that we recommend are the following:
Tinos
Tinos, an extremely picturesque and culturally rich destination in the Aegean Sea that is known for its spiritual and religious heritage. With its white traditional houses, narrow streets, beautiful beaches and famous temples, Tinos attracts both believers and culture lovers. Its central settlement, Chora, is filled with Venetian and neoclassical buildings, while Panagia Tinos is one of the most important Orthodox churches in Greece.
Visitors will discover unique arts, crafts, and local products, as well as enjoy the island’s gastronomy with traditional island delicacies. In Tinos town, you will find the Lito Hotel, where you will be amazed by the view of the rooms. Moving out of Tinos, in the area of Agios Ioannis – Portos, you will find the Anemologio. The complex offers comfortable and fully equipped apartments which due to their location will make you love the island. In Kionia of Tinos, Paesino is waiting to welcome you, as well as Glafki in Panormos.
Tinos is known for its marble. A visit to the Museum of Marble Art (Mouseio Marmarotechnias) will leave you with the best impressions..
This island is inextricably linked to the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on 15 August. Apart from this, every year on the same day, the anniversary of the torpedoing of the “Elli”, the cruiser that arrived on the island in 1940 for the celebrations of Virgin Mary, is also celebrated.
Kefalonia
An island that excites the senses and steals the hearts of travelers with its beautiful landscapes and crystal-clear beaches. Kefalonia is the largest island in the Ionian Sea and has stolen the hearts of many travelers who visit it every year.
It is the ideal choice for an unforgettable travel experience during the period of 15 August.
Every year, on the day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, thousands of believers visit the island of Kefalonia to honor the feast with their presence and to admire the miraculous event: the appearance of the snakes on the rocks behind the bell tower of the church of Virgin Mary Snake, also known as Virgin Mary Lagouvarda. These snakes appear from 6 – 16 August and cause no harm.
During your stay on the island, it is worth a walk to the Limnos Cave of Melissani and a boat ride through it. An experience that will remain engraved in your memory!
If you are a deep-sea enthusiast and want to explore the depths of June, trust Fiskardo Divers.
In the Poros area you can stay in one of the luxury suites of Stellatos House. The Ionis Hotel in the settlement of Peratata, in its lush green surroundings, is waiting for you to enjoy your stay. For more accommodation options, click HERE .
Skiathos
Every part of the island looks like something out of a postcard. Skiathos is a destination that will captivate you from the first moment. The beauty of its natural wealth will enchant you and make you forget all the burdens of everyday life.
Lalaria & Koukounaries
Two beaches that you cannot have not heard of:
Lalaria
White pebbles, green waters, high cliffs.
Koukounaries
Golden, sandy beach. Behind it, a dense pine forest and Lake Strofilias, which is one of the protected habitats of the Natura 2000 network. This place is a wetland of unparalleled beauty that will leave you speechless.
In the area you will find the Mandraki Village Boutique Hotel where you will enjoy your stay with all the comforts. While in the centre of the island you will find the Iris Skiathos where the pleasant owners are waiting to accommodate you in one of their modern apartments.
For Skiathos, the feast of Panagia has a special significance. On the eve, on August 14, the procession of the epitaph around the Holy Monastery of Evangelistria takes place, with crowds of people coming to honour the event. It was in this monastery that the Greek flag was woven for the first time and the leaders of the 1821 Revolution were sworn in.
There is a museum in the sanctuary, where you will have the opportunity to see a large collection of folklore and historical relics.
Do not leave the island without visiting the house of Alexandros Papadiamantis, which now functions as a museum. An experience that will leave you in awe. It is a two-storey traditional building located in the center of Skiathos. The author lived and died in this house.
Whichever choice you make, you will experience unforgettable summer moments on these islands!
