Corfu, Greece – From May 1st to May 3rd, 2026, Corfu hosted its annual Greek-Serbian Friendship Days, a series of commemorative events dedicated to the Serbian soldiers and civilians who found refuge on the island during World War I. These annual celebrations honor the memory of the fallen and reinforce the strong historical and spiritual ties between Greece and Serbia.
Commemoration of Serbian WWI Soldiers
Each year in May, Corfu pays tribute to the Serbian soldiers who, during the First World War, sought asylum on the island, enduring hardships and war wounds. Alongside the military, a large number of Serbian people, including their political and ecclesiastical leadership, found hospitality and relief in Corfu. The island of Vido still hosts a mausoleum with the remains of the fallen, serving as a sacred place of remembrance and honor, with similar monuments found in other parts of Corfu and the Diapontia Islands.
Events and Participants
This year’s events commenced on Friday, May 1st, with ceremonies in the Liapades area of Corfu. The events were attended by His Grace Bishop Paisios of Dioclea, Assistant Bishop to His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannikios of Montenegro, representing His Beatitude Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, and the Very Reverend Archimandrite Methodios, Abbot of the Holy and Stavropegic Hilandar Monastery of Mount Athos.
On Saturday morning, May 2nd, a Divine Liturgy was held at the mausoleum of the Serbian soldiers on Vido Island. Bishop Paisios presided over the service, with the participation of Abbot Methodios and other clergy. Representatives of the Serbian state authorities, including the Consul of Serbia in Corfu, Mr. Zeljko Popovic, as well as local authorities from Corfu, were also present.
Cultural Celebrations and Speeches
In the evening of the same day, Greek-Serbian friendship events took place in Garitsa Grove in Corfu town. These celebrations were attended by local authorities, political representatives, and a large crowd. The program featured traditional dances, musical performances, and cultural elements from both nations. His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos, and the Diapontia Islands delivered a greeting, emphasizing the enduring bonds of faith and history that unite Greece and Serbia. The Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Mr. Stefanos Gikas, also addressed the attendees.
Archieratical Co-Liturgy at Saint Spyridon Church
Finally, on Sunday, May 3rd, the Sunday of the Paralytic, an Archieratical Co-Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Pilgrimage of Saint Spyridon. Bishop Paisios presided, with the concelebration of the local Shepherd, Metropolitan Nektarios, Abbot Methodios, the Very Reverend Hieromonk and Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Theodore of Tyron and Saint George the Trophy-Bearer of Stratia, Archimandrite Christodoulos Triantafyllou, and other Serbian and local clergy.
During the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Nektarios invited Abbot Methodios to deliver a spiritual address to the congregation. Referring to the Gospel of the Sunday of the Paralytic and the teachings of the Fathers, with an emphasis on the interpretation of Saint Nikolai Velimirović, he highlighted that life’s trials and difficulties are not dead ends but can serve as a means of healing and spiritual maturation when faced with faith in God. Just as a patient accepts bitter medicine with the hope of healing, so too is the believer called to accept trials as an opportunity for salvation. He also stressed that the light of the Resurrection is not limited to a single feast but is called to illuminate the entirety of human life, so that one truly becomes a child of the Resurrection.
Exchange of Gifts and Future Outlook
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Nektarios extended a message of love and welcome to the guests from Serbia, emphasizing the fraternal and spiritual ties that unite the two peoples, founded on common Orthodox faith and shared historical journey. He expressed the joy of the local Church for the presence of the Serbian brethren and warmly thanked both His Grace Bishop Paisios and Abbot Methodios for their participation and spiritual contribution, highlighting the importance of unity and the witness of Orthodoxy in the modern world.
The events concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts amidst an atmosphere of emotion and brotherhood, with mutual thanks expressed for the hospitality and the presence of all at the remembrance and friendship events.
Source: https://www.startmediacorfu.gr/imeres-ellinoservikis-filias-stin-kerkyra/
