The Ceremony of the Washing of the Feet in Patmos, also known as the Holy Niptir of Patmos, is one of the island’s most important religious traditions, reenacting the divine drama of the Last Supper every Holy Thursday. This ceremony has its roots in the 4th century and represents the act of humility performed by Jesus when He washed the feet of His disciples. Although the celebration was restricted during the period of Italian occupation, it was revived after liberation and remains one of the most splendid religious events of Holy Week.

The custom includes the gathering of the faithful in the central square of Chora, where a wooden platform, the “niptir,” is set up, and the monks reenact the Last Supper. The Abbot, together with the priests and deacons, carries out the ceremony, in which the reenactment of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet holds a central place. After the Divine Liturgy, the faithful gather to watch the ceremony with deep devotion and reverence, experiencing the Holy Niptir of Patmos.