The church of Virgin Mary Lagouvarda or Fidousa or Fidiotissa is one of the most famous temples in Kefalonia, as it receives many pilgrims and adventurous visitors every year because of the snake phenomenon that appears here in August!

Specifically, every year between August 6th and 16th, numerous rows of small snakes appear from the rocks behind the fringed bell tower of the church, which then climb undisturbed everywhere inside and outside the church and among visitors! These are young people of the genus Telescopus fallax or haloopides, which are found in various regions of the eastern Mediterranean, in particular, and have dark bands on their heads that can be said to form a cross. These snakes are poisonous, but their poison is powerless to harm humans.

The legend says that it all began when villagers saw a bow burning and when they ran out of the fire they saw with surprise that the shrub was swallowed, but at its base lay a picture of the Virgin Mary, which they carried to the church. But the following day the image had disappeared to find itself again in the same place under the burnt bush. The villagers transported the icon over and over again to the church, even locking it until they were convinced that the Virgin desired to build a temple in honor of the place where the burnt bush was, which eventually happened. Over the years, the temple evolved into a women’s monastery, but one day the nuns saw pirate ships approaching and joined the Virgin to save them. Their prayer were heard and then appeared around the monk snakes that prevented pirates, while in another version, the nuns themselves transformed into snakes.

Since then the miracle has been repeated every year, and the appearance of the snakes is a good omen, as in the 1940s and 1953s there have been tragic events: the outbreak of the Second World War and the great earthquakes of Kefalonia respectively!

Regardless of whether you believe in miracles, the icon of the church at the festivities of the 15th of August is indeed impressive, with small snakes moving everywhere and people not afraid of them. Snakes with their customary presence remind us of the project of reconciling man with the nature that only can be beneficial!