Easter is one of the biggest religious celebrations of Christianity commemorating the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the passage from death to life.
During Holy Week, the Orthodox Christian Church replicates the events that led to Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. On Great and Holy Friday, He dies on the cross. Most churches host two services – one in the afternoon and another during the evening.
On Great and Holy Friday, the Epitaphio, which symbolises the tomb of Christ, is adorned, traditionally by young girls and women, with fresh flowers which are ready to receive the body of Jesus.
At the afternoon service, Jesus dies on the cross. The Vespers service in the afternoon observes the unnailing of Christ from the Cross and the placement of His body in the tomb.
In the evening, the service is centered around mourning Christ’s death. This is referred to as the Lamentations service.
The Epitaphios procession then begins around the streets of the church with bells ringing, commemorating the burial procession of Christ. Accompanying the solemn procession are the people of the congregation, who continuously chant the Lamentations.
At the end of the procession, the Epitaphios is brought back to the church. Occasionally, after the clergy carry the Epitaphios back into the church, they might stop just inside the entrance to the church and hold the Epitaphios above the door so that all who enter the church pass under it.
The faithful continue to visit the tomb and venerate the Epitaphios throughout Holy Saturday.