The streets in Greece were empty this year for Easter, something never seen before. We all #stayedhome to protect our loved ones amid the coronavirus pandemic. Christos Kissatzekian shares snapshots from the…
Tag: Greek Orthodox Easter
Despite Greece’s coronavirus lockdown, Corfiots marked Holy Saturday with the tradition of “Botides”, where large clay jugs filled with water are thrown from the balconies of homes in the centre of town,…
Two burnt-out cars, burnt illegal immigrant tents and attacks against the police checkpoints, are just some of the extensive incidents that began on Saturday morning and culminated at midnight on the same…
“This Easter, we must all express the love for our fellow citizens in practice, showing our responsibility to society. We stay home and we will meet again when the danger is over.…
Fireworks were set off at the stroke of midnight on Holy Saturday, in seven parts of the centre of Athens, as an alternative way to celebrate Easter in the Greek capital this…
A few minutes before 6pm on Holy Saturday, the Aegean airline plane carrying the Άγιο Φως (Holy Fire) from the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, arrived at Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos. The…
On the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha, Orthodox Christians celebrate the life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This feast of feasts is the most significant day in the…
Πάσχα (Pascha) this year symbolises love and solidarity more than ever. For the first time in history, this year’s Easter finds us in extraordinary and challenging times that have significantly changed our previous way of…
The Epitaphio at the Holy Monastery of Agios (Saint) Panteleimon in Fodele village, Crete, has been adorned with a special message for the world. For the first time in history, in these…
A little boy, Nicholas from Cyprus, chanting ‘Η ζωή εν τάφω’ on Great and Holy Friday has gone viral. The powerful and melodic voice from the little boy has stunned and melted the…
On Great and Holy Saturday the Orthodox Church commemorates the burial of Christ and His descent into Hades. It is the day between the Crucifixion of our Lord and His glorious Resurrection.…
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. On Great and Holy Friday, the Epitaphio…
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took the opportunity on Thursday to thank Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece for the church’s support in the communal effort to observe coronavirus-related restrictions, including…
On Great and Holy Friday the Orthodox Church commemorates the death of Christ on the Cross. This is the culmination of the observance of His Passion by which our Lord suffered and…
Red eggs are perhaps the brightest symbol of Greek Easter, representing the blood of Christ and rebirth. Red eggs are traditionally dyed on Holy Thursday. Here is a simple method that will…
Tsoureki is a sweet Greek Easter bread, which has a three-strand braid to represent the Holy Trinity. It is traditionally made today, Holy Thursday (along with the dyeing of the Easter eggs) and eaten…
On Thursday of Holy Week four events are commemorated: the washing of the disciples’ feet, the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony in the…
On the afternoon or evening of Great and Holy Wednesday, the Sacrament or Mystery of Holy Unction is conducted in Greek Orthodox parishes. The Sacrament of Holy Unction is offered for the…
On Holy Tuesday, during the Great and Holy week of Easter, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Holy Gospel, which refers to Christ’s denunciation against the religious leaders of Israel, the Secretaries…
Today is Holy Monday and for each of the first three days of Holy Week, there is a general theme. These are the days that set the stage for Christ’s death and…