On Holy Friday, church bells throughout Greece ring mournfully all day long and in the evening there is the Procession of the Epitaphios – representing the coffin of Christ – in each parish. In the morning, the Epitaphios is decorated with spring flowers — mostly white, red, and purple — until it is entirely covered. The Judas dummy is stuffed with straw and wood and is first paraded around town before it is set on fire. During the Second Resurrection on Easter Sunday evening, in the northeastern towns of Orestiada and Didimoticho the icon of Agia Anastasia is auctioned off. The custom is a understandably controversial one because it is very dangerous. Later, they take a handful of the ashes and scatter them in the graveyard. Many of the Greek Easter customs are particular to certain regions and might look peculiar to other parts of Greece, yet they are exciting and local people feel they are absolutely vital to the annual feast day. The balloons stay in the air for 30 or 40 minutes before they are lost in the sky or burn up. Greek Easter Traditions and Customs Across Greece, Israeli El-Al Plane Escorted by Greek Fighter Jets Over the Aegean, Working from Paradise: Crete Launches Campaign to Entice Digital Nomads. After the First Resurrection, which takes place in the island’s Metropolitan church, the bells of all churches begin to toll and people begin throwing thousands of botides filled with water and laurel from their windows. It consists of Holy Week, commemorating Christ’s sufferings and Passion, and the Easter night itself, a celebration of resurrection and salvation, of light, joy and beauty, and also of Greek identity. This special day sees the conclusion of the Passion of Christ with Christ’s burial. Verse 3 says, “Then were the days of unleavened bread.” The New Testament Church was observing these feast days described in Leviticus 23. Every Easter on Corfu, locals revive the old tradition of breaking “botides”, which are a special type of clay pot. In the village of Arachova in central Greece, locals celebrate Easter along with the name day of Agios Georgios, a moveable feast which traditionally falls near Easter. On Holy Wednesday, there is The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. After the washing of His Apostles’ feet, Christ pointed out Judas the betrayer, inaugurated the Eucharist, and pronounced the new commandment of love for one another. Easter is the Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth three days after he died from crucifixion by the Roman magistrate Pontius Pilate (c. 30 CE). King Herod began to persecute the Church, culminating in the brutal death of the apostle James by sword. Upon leaving His Apostles, Christ spoke to them about the descent of the Holy Spirit to complete man’s union with Christ. On Easter Sunday, a procession carrying the Agios Georgios icon parades around the village and winds uphill to the church. The objective is to hit the bell tower of the church on the other side. "People in Greek start celebrating at midnight Saturday night (Sunday morning) with cheers of "Christos Anesti," huge displays of fireworks, and burning effigies of Judas. This joyous and beautiful event alone attracts thousands of Greek tourists each year. Traditionally, the faithful walk underneath it as a gesture of faith. Thought to be eaten in ancient times, the recipe uses very simple ingredients like olive oil, vegetables, tomatoes, and bay leaf to perfume rich white beans cooked in water. The rockets are wooden sticks loaded with an explosive mixture containing gunpowder and launched from grooved platforms. It is at this time that the protopsaltis, or cantor, along with the choir, chants the centuries-old Troparion of Kassiane, a hauntingly lovely song written by Kassiane, a Byzantine nun. As they take part in this emotional ritual, they are not only honoring the memory of their dead but spreading the message of Christ’s resurrection. The plan was to later deliver him to the Jews. On Holy Thursday morning, the liturgy celebrates four Events: the washing of the disciples’ feet, the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Marvelous Prayer, and the betrayal. For the church it is a celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ, and also dating from ancient times it marks the changing seasons and the … Credit: Greek Reporter. On Folegandros island, the icon of the Assumption is taken from the Church of Agios Georgios and then carried around town for three entire days. It is the evening of repentance, confession, and the remission of sins by the Lord, preparing the faithful to receive Holy Communion, usually the next day. This very ancient Liturgy is a Vespers service. Once the priest begins reading the Gospel, they light the fire and burn the effigy. The hymns speak of the conquering of death and the day’s celebration is called “First Resurrection.” Most of the readings of this day are from the Old Testament on the prophecies and promise of the conquering of death. On Holy Friday, Cretans begin preparations to “dine” with their dearly departed on Easter Monday — and yes, this peculiar feast takes place in the local cemetery. If someone sways the swing, then they must pledge before God and man to marry the one sitting on the swing. In the Thrace region of northern Greece, an effigy of Judas Iscariot is paraded around by children in the streets who ask locals for branches so they can burn him. Unlike most European nations, which will celebrate on April 4, Greece will adhere to the date for Orthodox Easter, which falls very late this year — on May 2. On the islands of Kythnos and Lesvos, a swing is created in the main square on Easter Sunday, where girls and boys dressed in traditional costumes get on to swing back and forth. Greek Easter is the most revered time of the year for religious Greeks as they fast for forty days, go to confession, and attend long church liturgies. On Easter Sunday, many Grecians will also greet others with "Christos anesti" (Christ is risen), and other Grecians will then respond "Alithos anesti" (truly, He has risen), which is similar to "He is risen, indeed. Many of the Greek Easter customs are particular to certain regions and might look peculiar to other parts of Greece, yet they are exciting and local people feel they are absolutely vital to the annual feast day . Orthodox Churches still use the Julian calendar for Easter, meaning at some times that there can be a weeks-long lag behind the Gregorian. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email! Greek White Bean Soup. This national Greek dish is on the menu every week in most households. Greek Easter is full of ancient traditions and customs, followed faithfully throughout the millennia, making the feast a colorful one after the Lenten mourning for the Passion of Christ. Notice Acts 12:1. The descent of the Holy Spirit, Christ said, would bring joy and peace to them and the world. At the same time, others in town prepare and light pits with fire from the Resurrection candles for the roasting of the Easter lamb. Now read Acts 12:4: “And when he [H… The Epitaphios. The liturgy also includes the reading of the “Twelve Gospels”. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email! The Traditional Meal. Easter in Santorini. On Holy Saturday, psalms are read and Resurrection hymns are sung, telling of Christ’s descent into Hades: “Today Hades cried out groaning,” the psalm says. The Bible is the source for all things Christian. The Hymn of Kassiane, sung every Tuesday of Holy Week around the world, is one of the many hymns composed by one of the few women known to have been writing music during Byzantine times. Although the chocolate eggs and bunnies are not a Greek tradition, they have become an integral part of the Greek Easter, with shops and grocery stores filled with them during Springtime. Credit: Vassilis/CC-BY-SA-2.0. It is the custom to carry the Eternal Flame home and use it to … Easter and Its Connection to Passover On the island of Chios, the locals from the village of Vrontados literally go to “war” upon the Rising of Christ at midnight on Holy Saturday. The icon procession passes through the homes of all religious people. In Kalamata, also in the Peloponnese, the famous “saitopolemos” custom is observed, which stems from the 1821 Greek War of Independence, and the battles of the Greeks  against the army of Ibrahim Pasha. Holy Thursday liturgies are the most heartbreaking of Greek Easter as Jesus Christ is betrayed and is led to his death at the end of the day. On Easter Monday, people visit the graveyards carrying food and wine to the burial sites which have already been cleaned and decorated for the day. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. St. John of Patmos writing the Book of Revelation by Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1480-5. Credit: Public domain. Born in 805/810 and passing away before 865, Kassiane was a Byzantine abbess, poet, composer, and hymnographer. The so-called war is between two local churches, where opposing parishioners fire thousands of homemade firecracker rockets at each other, while the more pious attend the Resurrection liturgy inside the two churches. See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Easter Sunday is filled with music from the island’s numerous bands which march around the city center playing songs. Also called Passion Week, the gospels read in church tell of the Passions of Christ, the painful days that led Him to the Cross and then to Resurrection. Holy Monday begins the Greek Easter Holy Week with a liturgy commemorating the blessed and noble Joseph and the fig tree which was cursed and withered by the Lord. See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Yes. At midnight, all the priests come out and chant “Christos Anesti!” while they pass the Holy Light from which all the faithful light their candles and pass the light saying “Christos Anesti!” with the recipient replying”Alithos Anesti!” (Truly, He is risen!”. In the Greek Orthodox faith, Easter is the most sacred observance. On Symi and Astypalaia, locals burn the effigy of Judas on Easter Sunday or the day after. Many of the Greek Easter customs are particular to certain regions and might look peculiar to other parts of Greece, yet they are exciting and local people feel they are absolutely vital to the annual feast day.. At midnight on Easter Sunday, locals release hundreds of homemade hot-air balloons, creating a stunningly lovely spectacle. To take away our sins, Christ willingly endured all kinds of torture, and finally the Cross and Death, purging all our sins with His death. The one who bids the most will hold the holy icon while walking around the city in order to bless and protect it from evil. This pleased the Jews so much that the apostle Peter was also taken prisoner by Herod. Relatives and friends of the deceased go to the cemetery and have lunch, including traditional dishes and sweets and exchange greetings. In the evening, the sacred ceremony of the Mysterion of the Holy Unction takes place. Does it mention Easter? The participants are divided into 10 to 15 teams, each consisting of 15 to 30 people, mainly young boys dressed in traditional costumes and armed with “saites”, cardboard tubes filled with gunpowder which are then lit on fire. John Cadbury, the founder of the famous British Cadbury chocolate, created the first chocolate egg in 1875, and since then chocolate eggs and bunnies have conquered Europe’s Easter celebrations. The Epitaphios is often sprinkled with flower petals and rosewater, decorated with candles and ceremonially censed as a mark of respect. On the island of Patmos, where the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation, a representation of the Last Supper and the Washing of the Feet takes place in the central square. The Tuesday of Holy Week liturgy commemorates the parable of the Ten Virgins. Greek Orthodox Easter is a special time to be in Athens. Jennifer Levy/Photolibrary/Getty Images. On Holy Friday, the procession of the Epitaph stops outside a chapel, where the fire is ready to burn Judas. It is the day of the Last Supper, when He celebrated Passover with His disciples. Red eggs for Easter. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Clearchos Kapoutsis CC BY 2.0. On the island of Hydra, the Epitaph of the neighborhood of Kamini is blessed after entering the sea waters, while on the island of Zakynthos the priest and locals release white doves from the top of the church and their houses respectively after the first bell rings at midnight on Holy Saturday. On this glorious Greek Easter night, people wear their Sunday best, take a white candle, the lampatha (λαμπάδα), and go to church to attend the liturgy, waiting for midnight. It is a night of joy after forty days of mourning as Orthodox Christians honor the Son of God who died for our sins and was then resurrected from the dead to show us the path of eternal life in faith. the Rocket War in Chios. by Nancy Gaifyllia On Holy Week, liturgies intensify and run for hours and hours. The Holy Friday liturgy is mourning for the painful Passion of Christ. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Clearchos Kapoutsis CC BY 2.0. Greek Easter is full of ancient traditions and customs, followed faithfully throughout the millennia, making the feast a colorful one after the Lenten mourning for the Passion of Christ. On Holy Week, liturgies intensify and run for hours and hours. To Greeks, Easter is the biggest annual feast, far more important than Christmas. An Easter greeting in Koine Greek from T. Michael W. Halcomb, founder of the Conversational Koine Institute.Translation: "Hello my friends. It is about ethical preparation and wakefulness. At midnight on Easter Sunday, locals of Leonidio in the Peloponnese release hundreds of homemade hot-air balloons, creating a stunningly lovely spectacle. Her hymn, called the Doxastikon on the Aposticha of the Bridegroom for Orthros, but better known as the Hymn of the Sinful Woman, is sung every Tuesday evening during Holy Week as the apex of the service on that day. The evening liturgy begins with the Hymn of the Bridegroom: “Behold the Bridegroom comes in the midst of the night…beware, therefore, O my soul, lest thou be borne down in sleep…and lest thou be shut out from the Kingdom…”. Easter is celebrated all over the mainland and on the islands, it is a family celebration as well as being the most significant time in the Greek Orthodox Church. In Heraklion, Crete, Easter feasting is not only for the living, but for the dead as well. Most analyses of the origin of the word ‘Easter’ agree that it was named after Eostre, an ancient word meaning ‘spring’, though many European languages use one form or another of the Latin name for Easter, Pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew Pesach, meaning Passover. Over 3,000 villagers dressed in colorful traditional clothing follow the icon procession, while dancing troupes entertain the crowd. Greek Easter is the most revered time of the year for religious Greeks as they fast for forty days, go to confession, and attend long church liturgies. Easter Sunday is the culmination of the week-long events that preceded his death, re-enacted every year in liturgical ceremonies known as Easter Week. On Kalymnos on Lazarus Saturday, there is a tradition in which the women bake man-shaped cookies, called ‘lazarakia,’ with a head, arms and legs. Finally, at midnight, there is the moment that all Greeks around the world eagerly anticipate: The Resurrection ceremony with the joyous proclamation of “Christos Anesti!” (Christ is risen!). In the evening, the ceremonial Epitaphios Procession takes place, led by the parish priests and followed by the faithful holding lit beeswax candles. The botides crash on the road and make a terrible racket, which in combination with the water and laurel is supposed to chase “evil” away. 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