The miracle of the Snakes of the Theotokos which appear every year on
the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on the greek island
Kephalonia.The phenomenon of the Holy Snakes of the Virgin
Mary has been occurring for centuries during the festivities to the
Theotokos between August 5 and August 15 in the village of Markopoulo on
the island of Kefalonia, Greece. The small black snakes appear at the
church of Panagia of Langouvarda on the site of a monastery, established
as a nunnery and dedicated to Our Lady of Langouvarda.
The
snakes have a small cross on their head and their tongues are also in
the shape of a cross. They are known to belong to the Telescopus fallax
species, also known as the European Cat Snake, and they appear in and
around the courtyard of the church, on the walls and on the bell tower.
The snakes show no fear while the services are held and are harmless
during the festivities. As soon as the Liturgy concludes on the 15th of
August, they become hostile and aggressive and disappear back into the
wilderness of the area. The snakes cannot be found until the following
year.
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