What’s so special about August 15th? Whether you’re in Athens, on a Greek island, or visiting a mainland village, you’re bound to notice all the talk about August 15th – the biggest national holiday in Greece after Orthodox Easter.
Welcome to “All About Greece” a new column which is part of “TO BHMA International Edition Travels Greece With You” series, aiming to answer all your questions and introduce you to this wonderful country we call home and you call vacation!
A National Holiday of Faith & Festivity
A tiny chapel overlooking the sea on Tinos… a common sight across Greece.
August 15th – or in Greek: “Dekapentavgoustos” – is the grandest event of Greek summer dedicated to the Holy Mother, the Panagia (Virgin Mary). This day, known as the Assumption or Dormition (Koimisis tis Theotokou) of the Virgin Mary, marks her “sleep” and ascent to the heavens. This is why you will hear church bells ringing in every corner of the country.
The date is preceded by a two-week fast, culminating in a feast that brings together families, friends, and entire communities. August 15 is also one of the biggest name days of the year. Maria, Panagiota, Panagiotis, Panos, Despina, Mary all celebrate today – which means they take friends out and treat them to food and drinks.
Tinos & its Pilgrims
The magnificent Church of the Panagia Evangelistria or the Church of Our Lady of Tinos, where the icon of the miracle-working Panagia is located.
August 15th is for the Orthodox faithful, second only to Easter in importance. Churches dedicated to the Panagia – from cliffside chapels and mountain monasteries, to city cathedrals and shrines inside caves – welcome pilgrims and worshippers from far and wide.
The most famous pilgrimage leads to the island of Tinos and the Church of the Panagia Evangelistria, also known as the “Miracle Worker”. If you find yourself on the port of Tinos on August 15, you may see jam packed ferries arriving one after the other with hundreds of worshippers, some making the steep climb to the church on their knees as an act of devotion.
In northern Greece, Pontic Greeks honor their beloved “Panagia Soumela” with a pilgrimage and procession on August 15 at the modern Panagia Soumela Monastery on Mount Vermio.
Dressed in traditional attire, they carry the revered icon of the Virgin Mary which originates from the historic Soumela Monastery in Pontus, a region in Anatolia on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in a procession filled with prayer, traditional music, and cultural pride.
A Feast & Dance Everywhere
Pontic Greeks honor their beloved Panagia Soumela with a pilgrimage and procession on August 15 at the modern Panagia Soumela Monastery on Mount Vermio. Photo: ANA-MPA /PIXEL/Michalis Pappous
Every village, town, city, and neighbourhood in Greece has its own miracle-working Panagia and a church or chapel dedicated to Her. On this day, these temples come alive with live music and dancing, and of course, free food and wine. These are the Greek “paneygria”– outdoor festivals that bring people together in a wonderful experience of sharing.
So if you’re visiting Greece, make sure to ask a local where the nearest panegyri will take place. After sunset, you’ll probably find yourself in a whitewashed churchyard with local musicians, cicadas in full chorus, and the intoxicating scent of basil and jasmine setting the scene. This is Greek summer in all its glory!
Greek Summer at its Best
The 15th of August isn’t just spiritual, it also marks the peak of Greek summer. August is when the majority of Greeks traditionally go on holiday. So you’ll notice that most of the shops in Athens and Thessaloniki – with the exception of tourist areas – are closed for the month and the streets are quiet and empty. Finding tickets to the islands or hotel rooms is almost impossible, so don’t wait to book on August 15th – half the nation, if not all, is on the move.
Where is everyone? On the islands, in the villages, on a beach somewhere, or on board a ferry to their vacation destination.
A Dark Day in Modern Greek History
August 15 also marks one of the darkest days in modern Greek history. On this day in 1940, during the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the Greek light cruiser “Elli” was torpedoed and sunk in the harbor of Tinos by an Italian submarine, killing several on board. At the time, Greece was officially at peace, so the attack was both a violation of international law and a clear signal of Italy’s aggressive intentions, making it a symbolic moment that foreshadowed Greece’s entry into World War II.
5 Things You Should Do on August 15th in Greece
✓ Definitely attend a panegyri and join the dancing!
✓ Find and eat Greek figs. They are at their sweetest and ripest in August.
✓ Say “Chronia Polla” in general, and wish people named Maria, Panagiota, Panagiotis, Panos, Despina, Mary, Giota, Takis the best for their name days.
✓ Visit a church or monastery dedicated to the Panagia to experience the spiritual side of the holiday.
✓ Slow down and enjoy the gift of Greek summer.
* Have questions about Greece? Send them to Maria Paravantes at mparavantes@tovima.com
