Two significant stops of religious tourism in Nafplio, prompted by upcoming religious celebrations and events, in churches of different character but important and impressive, are recommended to city visitors from Tuesday, October 31st, to Thursday, November 2nd 2023.
It's more than true, that the magic of this city can captivate you, and you can spend endless hours in its streets, shops, and cafes. However, a visit to some of its historic and beautiful churches can not only wonderfully complement your image of Nafplio, but also genuinely move you!
For example, won't you go to see the place, where the first Governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias, was assassinated, the historic Agios Spyridon, or the Metropolitan Church of Agios Georgios, both in the heart of the old town? Surely, you will! So, take a look below at how you can best experience these days, immediately following the celebration of the Greek National Anniversary of October 28th 1940 in Nafplio.
On Wednesday, November 1st 2023, the feast day of the Holy Unmercenaries (Agii Anargiri) Cosmas and Damian (or the silverless), along with their mother Theodota, the Holy Church of the Unmercenaries in Akronafplia celebrates. You have certainly climbed to this castle of the old town and the Clock Tower, which are among the most wanted spots in Nafplio for Instagram lovers. But how many of you have found the Holy Church open there?
Due to this important celebration, if you visit these days, you can attend sacred services according to the following schedule:
Tuesday, October 31st 2023 (on the celebration's eve)
At 17:00 - Great Vespers and the Service of the Blessing
Wednesday, November 1st 2023
07:30 - Matins and then the Divine Liturgy
17:00 - Vespers and then the Supplication to the Holy Unmercenaries.
Choose a sacred service and go. The atmosphere of reverence, the blessings, and the imposing setting of the Akronafplia Castle will certainly reward you!
On Thursday, November 2nd 2023, I also strongly recommend another unique mystical experience. For the retrieval of the holy relics of the glorious great martyr George the Trophy-Bearer (see end of article), a Night Divine Liturgy will be held at the Metropolitan Holy Church of Agios Georgios (Saint George) in Nafplio. The sacred services begin at 20:30 and the end of the Divine Liturgy is at 00:15, in the early hours of Friday.
During the Sacred Services, a part of the holy relic of Saint George will be placed for veneration. What a blessing! You can easily pay a visit, and you will surely stay, because the atmosphere of hymns, under the almost exclusive light of candles in this wonderful and historic church, will enchant you!
Of course, you should also visit during the daytime to admire the architecture, the frescoes, and reflect on the profound history of this metropolitan church of Nafplio, marked by highly significant events.
In the end, what else can you ask for from this city? The experiences here are countless, all different... Choose also some, that can really touch your soul!...
Did you know that?
The Holy Skull of Saint George is coming to the Argolis region for the first time, from the Holy Monastery of Xenophon on Mount Athos, at the parish Holy Church of the Holy Belt in New Tiryns, Nafplio, on Thursday, November 2nd 2023, at 16:30. It will remain there until Sunday, November 5th, when it will depart once again for Mount Athos.
During the days that St. George's Holy Skull will remain in the church of New Tiryns, daily Divine Services will be held.
The Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Xenophon (coastal, on the western side of the peninsula) is one of the twenty monasteries on Mount Athos and ranks sixteenth in the hierarchical order of Athonite monasteries. The Abbot of the Holy Monastery is Archimandrite Alexios Xenophontinos.
