The re-enactment of the Hippocratic oath

The ceremony was first held in 1952 and was performed by students of the Hippocratic High School of Kos, in honour of some European doctors who had visited the island of Hippocrates. During that time, the principal of the school was Gabriil Papatheofanous who tasked the gymnasts Amalia Exarhaki and Panagiotis Fotias with the teaching of the required choreography to the students. Teacher of classical studies and author Fotis Varelis was one of the first initiators of the ceremony and did the research that lead to the instructions for that first ceremony.

Since then, the ceremony became widely known and several doctors combine their visit to Kos with the awe-inspiring re-enactment, allowing themselves to relive a vital moment in the history of medicine. Medical students from around the world have also experienced the ceremony by taking their oath in the sacred Asclepeion. Nowadays, the ceremony is performed annually under the auspices of the municipality of Kos or or upon requests in the event of a medicinal conference and other medical events. It is considered the topmost event of Hippocratia Festival.