On August 28, the eve of the day commemorating the beheading of Agios Ioannis (St. John the Baptist), vespers are held in the big chamber of the cave by the same name.
Worshipers start early in the day, carrying the saint’s icon from the church, where it is kept, to the cave, bringing with them food for a picnic under the trees by the cave’s entrance.
They spend time exploring the cave and light candles that are placed at various points inside.
The mood is festive ahead of the vespers, which begins around 4pm.
Once the service is over, they return to the village as one big group and, quite spontaneously, carry on with a feast to the sounds of traditional music at one of the local tavernas.
| Directions for access | The cave may be reached on foot, via two tracks. Beginning from Panagia village, the hike takes between 45min to 1hr. Also, a slightly longer course may be taken from Agios Georgios. |
