The first day of the Church New Year is also called the beginning of the Indiction. The term Indiction comes from a Latin word meaning, “to impose.” It was originally applied to…
Tag: Greek religion
The oldest church in Santorini is Panagia Episkopi, a former bishop’s church from the Middle Byzantine period. Located at Mesa Gonia on the foot of the mountain, Profitis Ilias, it is dedicated…
The snakes of the Virgin Mary have made their annual appearance again in a church on the island of Kefalonia, Newsbreakgr reported. The snakes appeared later than usual, as they are usually…
On March 25, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Annunciation by archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she should become the mother of Jesus Christ the Son of God, as today…
The Annunciation (or Evangelismos in Greek) of the Theotokos is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on March 25. Greeks also celebrate Greek Independence Day this day. This…
Today the Greek Orthodox Church remembers the miracle of Saint Theodore the Tyro and Kolyva (boiled wheat). On the two Saturdays before Lent and the first Saturday of Lent we celebrate Liturgies…
Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) is the first day of Great Lent in the Greek Orthodox Church. Today also brings preceding Carnival celebrations to an end, inviting everyone to leave behind the ‘sinful’…
Cheese lovers rejoice! Today marks the beginning of ‘Tyrini’ the week where Greeks worldwide enjoy loads of dairy, cheese and cheese-based dishes, as it is the last week before Great Lent begins. Tyrini…
Today the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates Apokries, Meatfare Sunday, which is the last day of meat consumption until Pascha. The Sunday of the Last Judgment or Meatfare Sunday is the third Sunday using the Lenten Triodion, the…
Today is Psihosavato, a day in a series of Saturdays set aside in the liturgical Greek Orthodox Calendar for the remembrance of those who have died. These days occur on designated Saturdays before and during the seasons of Lent and Easter: the first two are observed on the two Saturdays before Lent begins, the third Saturday of Soulscoincides with the first Saturday of Lent, and the fourth Soul Saturday takes place on the Saturday before Pentecost, the close of the Easter season. Saturday holds special significance in the religious calendar as the day on which the crucified Jesus lay dead in the tomb before his resurrection. On each Soul Saturday a special service is held where prayers are offered in memory of those who have died and a list of the names of the dead is recited. Participants attending the services prepare kollyva, a dish made of sweetened, boiled wheat kernels, raisins, almonds, and pomegranate seeds that are traditionally associated with funerals and memorial services in Greece and Eastern Europe. In addition to attending religious services, participants often visit the graves of departed family members on Soul Saturdays, to clean and decorate the burial sites. Everyone – especially those with loved ones whose…
On February 10, the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Day of Agios Charalambos. Saint Charalambos guarded his people much as a shepherd would guard his flock, therefore, he is considered to be…
On February 7, the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Day of Saint Parthenios the Miracle Worker, who is the Patron Saint of cancer patients, as he is known to have performed…
On February 5 the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast Day of Agia Agathi, who is the Patron Saint of breast cancer patients and is known for curing many people of the…
On February 2, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of Christ to the Temple. The Church also refers to this Feast as the Synaxis (or meeting) of our…
On January 20 the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Agios Euthymius the Great, who was also known as a miracle worker. Euthymius was born during the reign of king…
On January 19 the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Agios Makarios the Great. Saint Macarius the Great of Egypt was born in the early fourth century in the village…
On January 18 the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Agios Athanasios. Agios Athanasios was born in Alexandria in the year 296, and from his early childhood, he had an…
On January 17 the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast Day of Agios Antonios O Megas, the Anchorite of Egypt and the Father of all Monks. Saint Anthony was born near Herakleopolis…
Thousands of people from Greek Orthodox parishes in Sydney braved the smoky conditions and rainfall that occurred, attending this year’s Epiphany celebrations at Yarra Bay on Sunday, January 12, 2020. According to three of…
The Holy Theophany, also known as the Epiphany, the Celebration of the Lights, or ta Fota (the Lights) is held on January 6 and is one of the most sacred and holiest Feast Days…