The monastery of Panagia Spiliani, in the capital of the island Mandraki, on August 14 and 15 is a pole of attraction for all the islanders of the Dodecanese because it strongly combines religious fervor and feasting.

During the procession of Orthros, the hut (wheat) of the Virgin Mary is made by the “nine-headed women” accompanied by obituaries reminiscent of Good Friday. The “niniameritisses” are women who have a vow to spend nine days and nights of prayer in the cells of the monastery, offering various tasks for the cleaning and preparation of the monastery before and during the festival.

On the day of the feast, after the service is over and the hut is sanctified, a procession is formed that wanders around Mandraki and ends at the Zisimopouleio theater above the central square, where a meal is served for everyone. In the evening a dance is set up, the so-called “cup of the Virgin”. The first of the dance holds a mug as she dances. Whoever enters the dance throws money for the monastery and the island.

At the feast that follows, as in most of the festivals of the island, the inhabitants wear their traditional costumes (men’s breeches, women embroidered shirt) while the traditional instruments of Nisyros which are the violin, the santouri and the lute do not stop being heard until morning.