Church processions, communal meals and customs that differ from island to island define how the Feast of the Assumption is marked across the Dodecanese.

As the island prepares for the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, celebrations are centered on the Panagia Kanala shrine and a traditional reenactment of the discovery of its sacred icon.

Buses, trolleybuses, Metro and trams will operate on modified schedules over the long holiday weekend, with less frequent services on most routes.

Police will increase patrols and traffic checks nationwide for the August 15 holiday, while trucks weighing more than 3.5 tons will face restrictions on major highways on August 14, 15 and 16.

Thousands are leaving Athens for the islands, with 24 ferries scheduled to depart Piraeus on Thursday and ship occupancy reaching up to 96% on popular routes.

Visiting Athens in August? Find out why shops close, what stays open, and what you need to know about the August 15 holiday

Today's August 15 holiday marks the peak of the annual summer season in Greece, with a major religious festival combining with the exodus of hundreds of thousands of urban dwellers and the arrival of millions of visitors from abroad.

If you could capture Greek summer in a single day, August 15th would be it. From pilgrimage and prayer to village feasts and pride, it is Greece’s most celebrated day of summer.