Saint Spyridon: The Doorway That Changed Greek History
Above Syntagma Square, on a picturesque street in the old town, stands a small church that became the stage for one of the darkest moments in modern Greek history: here, on September 27, 1831, Greece's first Governor, Ioannis Kapodistrias, was assassinated.
The Church
Saint Spyridon was built in 1702, funded by the Nafplio Brotherhood of Orthodox Greeks. It's a post-Byzantine church, inscribed-cross shaped with a large octagonal dome. The bell tower was added in 1853; the central dome's frescoes were painted in 1902.
At the left icon stand is the icon of Saint Barbara (1897) — considered miraculous. In 1928, when the town was struck by plague, residents held a procession with the icon, praying for salvation.
The church served as a parish until 1952. It was named after the patron saint of Corfu — Kapodistrias's favourite church, since he came from that island.
The Assassination: September 27, 1831
That Sunday morning, around 6:45am, Kapodistrias left the government residence heading for Saint Spyridon, as he did every Sunday. Along the way, he encountered Georgios and Konstantinos Mavromichalis, under surveillance, with guards. He greeted them silently; they returned the greeting.
The Mavromichalis brothers arrived at the church first via a different route. When the Governor arrived and saw Konstantinos, he found it suspicious — but disregarding the danger, he proceeded to enter. There, he was assassinated by the two brothers. One of their guards fired errant shots at Kapodistrias's guards — a bullet struck the right side of the door, where the mark is still visible today.
After the killing, Georgios Mavromichalis fled west, taking refuge in the French embassy on Staikopoulou street.
What You'll See Today
At the entrance, a plaque and an embedded glass case — containing the fatal bullet — bear witness to the event. Kapodistrias's entrails were placed in a case beneath the sanctuary. To the right of the sanctuary is a fresco of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
Who Was Really Responsible?
The traditional account attributes the assassination to personal revenge by the Mavromichalis family, following the imprisonment of family patriarch Petrobey. Other analyses suggest involvement by foreign powers (Britain, France). Recent research by historian D. Kokkinakis even questions the direct guilt of the Mavromichalis brothers. The question remains a subject of historical debate.
Swiss philhellene Jean-Gabriel Eynard, a close friend of Kapodistrias, summarised it: "Those who assassinated Kapodistrias, assassinated Greece."
Practical Information
Location: Agios Spyridon Square, above Syntagma Square
Admission: Free (parish church)
Hours: Usually during service hours — confirm with the parish office
Practical tip: The small square around the church has 18th-19th century houses and two 18th-century Turkish fountains nearby.
See Also
When and where was Kapodistrias assassinated?
On September 27, 1831, at the entrance of the church of Saint Spyridon in Nafplio.
Who assassinated Kapodistrias?
Traditionally attributed to Konstantinos and Georgios Mavromichalis, though alternative theories exist.
Can I see the bullet?
Yes, an embedded glass case at the entrance contains the fatal bullet.
Why did Kapodistrias attend this church?
Saint Spyridon is the patron saint of Corfu, Kapodistrias's birthplace.
