Saint Spyridon church is located at the beginning of the paved street in Argostoli. Built in honour of the victims of 1953’s earthquake, it is a point of reference for the religious and cultural life of the island.
Saint Spyridon church is located at the beginning of the paved street, Lithostroto at the very centre of Argostoli capital town and it is hard to miss. It is one of the city’s many churches. The imposing bell tower instantly attracts visitors’ eyes.
The earthquake of 1953 nearly devastated the Catholic Church that was opposite to where the church of Saint Spyridon stands today, but the pictures stayed undamaged. Therefore, they were transferred to Saint Spyridon church, which was built in honour of the victims of the earthquake that almost flattened the island of Kefalonia.
Every year on August 11th, the same day that the earthquake was held, the image of the Saint is carried through the capital’s streets, for the memory of those who were lost.
The location of Saint Spyridon’s Church is a point of reference for the religious and cultural life of the island, as various traditional events and customs take place there, such as the parade (“perantzada”) of singers (“kantadoroi”) holding musical instruments while singing on the night of New Year’s Eve or the Pottery Breaking on the morning of the Orthodox Holy Saturday, when the first Resurrection takes place and the bells ring, accompanied by the sounds of the philharmonic band. People who are in the bell tower throw the pots from there into a specially designed area so that no one gets hurt. Crowds of people are gathered below to enjoy this special spectacle.
The church celebrates on December 12, which is the feast of Saint Spyridon’s name.