‘Miracle Snakes’ Return to Kefalonia Churches Ahead of Dormition

KEFALONIA, GREECE — The small snakes traditionally known as the “holy snakes of the Virgin Mary” have appeared again at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos near Markopoulo on the Greek island of Kefalonia. According to local Orthodox tradition, the snakes appear annually around the Feast of the Transfiguration on Aug. 6 and remain until the Feast of the Dormition on Aug. 15.

During church services, the reptiles are said to move freely among worshippers, including around the church’s furnishings and icons, without showing fear of people. The snakes are described as having soft skin and distinctive cross-shaped markings on their backs. Thousands of pilgrims reportedly travel to the area each year to witness the phenomenon and participate in the services surrounding the Dormition.

An 18th-century local tradition connects the appearance of the snakes with a pirate attack on the village. According to the story, nuns at an older monastery prayed to the Virgin Mary for protection, after which snakes appeared and drove the attackers away. The Church of Panagia Lagouvarda, also known as Panagia Fidousa, is another prominent site associated with the tradition and stands on the ruins of an earlier monastery.

The snakes’ annual appearance and disappearance remain a local mystery, with no explanation offered in the tradition for where they come from or where they go after the feast.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the wonderworking Donskoy Icon returned to a historic Moscow monastery.