Where does the name Ermioni come from?

Ancient Hermione was originally founded by the mythical hero Hermion and dedicated to the 'messenger' god Hermes, as Hermione means 'the one who carries the beauty of Hermes'.    

Many centuries later, during the late Mycenaen period, the town was honoured to Hermione, the only daughter of Helen and Menelaus, King of Sparta.  When Helen and Paris sailed together for Troy, Hermione was abandoned to the care of Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon, King of Argos and Mycenae.  Hermione, later married Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, the Greek hero of the Trojan War.  In the Iliad, Homer mentioned ancient Hermione's involvement in the Trojan War, 1260 - 1250 BC, under the command of the Argive King Diomedes, also the number of warships that sailed to Troy to bring back the beautiful Helen, Queen of Sparta.  Ancient Hermione has always been allied to Sparta.  

Over a thousand years later, the Augustan Roman geographer Strabo wrote about the town, as 'lying on the South-Eastern end of the Argolida, whereby history goes far back in time'.  Strabo also pointed out that 'it is not one of the lesser towns'.  Built and later re-built on the same site, Hermione has been inhabited since 3000 BC.


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Ermioni - Hermione........name day

Today in Ermioni, the community celebrated the name day of Ermioni, or Hermione as it is sometimes written from ancient texts.  Ermioni is actually a female Greek name which derives from the Greek messenger god Hermes. Hermione means "gorgeous as Hermes".  Hermione is an ancient Greek name which continued to be used in the early Christian years to date.

For the Greek Orthodox church, it is associated with Hermione, the daughter of Apostle Philip.  She had the gift of prophecy and was buried in Ephesus.  Ermioni was declared a saint by the Greek Orthodox Church, and the memory and name day of Aghia Hermione is celebrated on 4 September in Ermioni.

There is an evening service on the 3 September, followed by the official morning service, held at the Byzantine church of Aghia Hermione, on Pronos Hill.

The original Hermione was the daughter of Helen and Menelaus of Sparta, who married the son of Achilles, who was the Greek hero of the Trojan War.  Hermione later eloped  and married Orestes (pictured above).

Ermioni Ionian Evening

Because Ermioni is a small town, it is interesting to note that still today, cultural events are performed.  On a warm summers evening, the grounds of the Dimos was packed by the local community on Saturday 18 August, to watch a performance, which illustrated their Ionian cultural roots, which followed the tragic Smyrna disaster in 1922.  Following an exchange of populations, many refugees settled in and around Ermioni, bringing with them their Ionian traditions, music and songs.  The evening showed historic images and voices from Asia Minor and Ermioni from the early 20th C.  Traditional songs, poetry, music and dances were performed in remembrance of events 90 years ago.

Little is written about Ermioni in any guidebooks, but it is a super place to visit, to enjoy and experience what the community has to offer.  Throughout the year, there is a full calendar of events, from religious ceremonies, to traditional cultural events.  Many sought after traditional holiday houses are available to rent for the holiday maker, which all add to the charm of spending a great holiday in a perfect Greek location.  For those who wish to consider investing within the region, there are also some great places to buy, from land, to villas, to traditional Greek houses or renovation projects.

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Ermioni Panaghia Festival

The floral Epitaphios

The blessing of the bread

Epitaphios carried through the village

Brought back to the chur

Blessed bread given out

Holy pictures given out

The largest celebration in Greece to the Holy Virgin is the Dormition, or Assumption, which is 14/15 August.  In the old village of Ermioni, there is a church named Panaghia, so this annual August feast has an extra special meaning, and many people from all over Greece attend.  Mass starts in the evening of 14 August, followed by a candle lit procession.  The floral Epitaphios is carried through the village, down to the harbour front, then back to the church.  Once back at the church, people pass under the Epitaphios, back into the church where a blessing is given by the priests, followed by the giving out of the blessed bread.

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Nostalgic musical evening

A very nostalgic musical evening of historic serenades was performed by the Ermioni Kantada group on Saturday 4 August.  In the past, traditional serenades were performed by musicians and singers strolling through the winding old village of Ermioni, the town and port, during the 1950's and 1960's.  The group Kantada reunited and performed this particular Saturday evening to a packed audience, which included civil and religious representatives of the Ermionida region.  It was a wonderful opportunity for young and old to reflect and enjoy a traditional custom from a long ago.

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The 'blessing of horses' at the Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi

Following the end of the all night mass for the hundreds of pilgrims on June 30, the morning of July 1, is celebrated with the festival of 'blessing of horses' which is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years, well before the age of the car.  Horse owners from around the region descend upon the monastery, late morning, then take their horses through the gates which lead into a charming large courtyard.  Within this courtyard, most of the owners and their horses are blessed by the visiting priest.  After the blessings, the riders make their way back to Ermioni, or Kranidi for a final gathering and celebration.

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The festival at the Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi

Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi

The Byzantine church altar

The floral Epitaphios

The outside of the Monastery

The Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi is an 11th C Byzantine monastery and was originally built on the temple ruins of the ancient god of healing, Asklepios.  Even today, the monastery tries to care for people as well as stray and sick animals.  

Every year, on the 30 June, thousands of Pilgrims from the whole of Greece, descend upon the Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi, which is located 4.5 kms from Ermioni, to pay their respects, buy candles, enter the monastery church, and pray.  The route is lined with many market stalls, selling all types of merchandise, fancy goods, as well as snacks, food and drinks. Because of the volume of cars and buses, the near-by is used as a parking area, which is supervised by police.

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