September

September is a month for change - leaving summer and entering autumn. There was also the full moon on 9 August and Greeks stay in Greece to enjoy this by going to the Acropolis, or Sounion, or Santorini. Along with the Theotokos celebration on 15 August, the Dormition, and the endless blue skies of August. Not forgetting watermelon. Villagers on Lesbos go to Agiasos on 15 August for the big Service, cram into the church the night before and take whole watermelons or slices with them. Not the best scene.

Some say there was a man in the moon. By now he must be elsewhere. Have you ever been moonstruck? Some people are - see Mark17,15 and Mathew 4,24. Christ drove the devil out of the beleaguered person, thinking then that it was epilepsy. People were seleniazomenoi, we call them lunatics. (Selini and fengari are Greek for moon.) The presentation of the therapy of the Seleniazomenoi is held at Iviron Monastery, at Mt. Athos.

St. John with the snake exiting the poisoned cup.
Hans Memling, 1478

Saints, with their gift from Christ, also fought the devil, most often displayed as a dragon. A particularly dreaded dragon, who could kill, who sent flames of fire from his mouth. Sometimes the dragon sent poisonous vapours from his mouth. Lethal vapours. Many saints like Archangel Michael with his cross and St. George from his horse, defeated the dragon, St. Marina with her tool, and the Apostle Matthew (in place of Judas) going to Ethiopia, even Mary Magdalene who poured Holy Water effectively. All these saints defeated the devil, showing their power to defeat temptation.

Not so many years ago, people took their strange relatives and friends to the monastery in Kefalonia, where they were chained outside, waiting for St Gerasimos to bless them. St. Gerasimos is celebrated on 16 August with a litany. Poor Kefalonia. It gained a reputation for not quite ordinary people. The monastery is well worth a visit. Cephalonia is a beautiful island with St. Gerasimos their patron Saint. The Saint died there peacefully, in the monastery he created, take a blessing worshipping his coffin - his major celebration day is 20 October. A village on the island produces small harmless snakes that worshippers gather to see, for it is a unique event. 15 August certainly has many events, plus many Marias to wish well if they haven’t gone to Tinos or Patmos. Usually in the Scriptures they say Serpent rather than Snake.

On 27 August we celebrated St. Fanourios. A day when everyone bakes the traditional cake, the priest blesses it and cuts it into 40 slices. The recipe is rigidly followed but there must be no butter or eggs. An icon of the saint was found on Rhodes, in the 14th century, showing him as a young soldier. He is famous for finding lost things - that is what his name means “one who reveals”. Whilst baking, a candle should be lit. Many promise the Saint that they bake so the Saint’s mother is honoured. Yet another myth! We scarcely know about the Saint so should we know about his mother? Have you ever heard of a monk called Fanourios?

On 11 August Corfu celebrated one of the miracles of St Spyridon, when he saved the island from the Turks about 300 years ago. The bishop circles the town, the bands play, and cakes are given to those named Spiros.

September has many celebrations, like the first day when mathematicians and scientists calculate how this new church year will progress. Important, complicated, yet reliable. Years ago Galileo was accused of heresy for his theories.

2 September is the day of St. Mamas, with the enticing icon of young Mamas sitting on a wild animal with yet another wild animal in his arms. He is much loved in Cyprus. He died young after many miracles. Recognized from an early age to have many God given virtues. All his story is wonderful, how he got his name, when his parents died, how the storage pots refilled, how he tamed the fierce animals. Little booklets about him abound. The Bishop of Morfou has written about the Saint. There is even a monastery, the Saint Mamas monastery, in Cyprus.

Check your calendar for the many celebrations - such as the birth of the Holy Mother, the raising of the Cross, St. Sophia and her three children, and many more. Find the time for each celebration benefits you. Don’t underestimate the importance of the 14 September the day of the Cross. The day to take your flourishing pots of basil to church. Get a piece of the basil so carefully set up in the church, bake your home-made dough blessed with the basil. If you can bake Arto well, take along your home-made speciality. If you have no kitchen skills, take flowers. All churches are happy to have Arto. Flowers are always needed and, in this heat, fresh flowers are essential.

To all those who made our Metochi celebration on 23 August a success, thank you all. Great sweets, interest from both locals and clergy. Next year again, God willing. The new abbot replaced the old icon of the dormition with another of his liking.

August 23 - Festival of The Odigitria

As at every monastery, so too at the Holy Metochi, the celebration of the Saint to whom the monastery is dedicated is the most significant day in the year. 

In the case of the Metochi, our Patroness is the Holy Virgin and Mother of God, the Odigitria, who in this area is called the Panayiopoula. All year in our thoughts and prayers we call to  her to bestow her grace on us.

The 23rd of August is the Return Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the 9th day, and worshippers venerate a small icon of the Dormition, showing the All-Holy settled on her deathbed surrounded by apostles, hierarchs and angels.

Leading up to the day the church is scrubbed, polished and decorated. The Altar is covered with a richly embroidered cloth only used for this festival, flowers fill every corner and rows of flags are strung up and down the street. The  beloved and grace-filled icon of the Panayiopoula is framed in priceless handmade lace.

Celebrating the Panagia Odigitria

The church which so many describe as having a 'soul' is very small, so chairs outside in the quiet street soon fill up with locals and some from further away.

• On 22nd August, Vespers starts at 8 p.m.with the Blessing of the Bread (Αρτοκλασια) and is followed by refreshments.
• On 23rd August, Matins and Divine Liturgy starts at 8 a.m. Later, coffee is served next door, with extra help from a group interested in maintaining Corfu Town customs. Although lacking a refectory we aim at hospitality as that of Abraham.
• The small Canon to the Theotokos is chanted in the evening at 8 p.m., by candlelight, and already we look forward to next year's celebration, God willing.

Each Service is officiated by the Hegumen of the Holy Monastery Platytera.

'All generations shall call me blessed'  Luke 1, 48. That is why we call and pray for her help, our Ever-Virgin Mother. All Holy Theotokos intercede for us.

The church can be contacted by writing to PO Box 532, Corfu, 49100 Greece or by email at info@corfu-odigitria.com.