Easter Celebration in Crete
Easter Celebration in Crete
Easter celebration in Greece attracts many tourists, visiting the sights and taking part in festivities. When going to Crete, you should know that the Greeks are pious and very devoted to family, therefore they want to spend the biggest holidays, including Easter, in the home circle.
In general, Easter in Crete is a special holiday attracting interest. Daily life seems to be complete upside down. On weekdays, all stores are packed to capacity by queues. There are so many cars on the roads that you become feeling to be in the middle of the tourist season. People are in a hurry to take care of everything, there are last preparations everywhere, cities and villages are washed, and the island of Crete is preparing for a miracle!
In the Orthodox Church, the Easter holiday means “transition”. This is an eternal transition from death to life and from earth to heaven. Easter begins with Lazarus Saturday (the day before Palm Sunday) when Greek children and their teachers start enjoying the upcoming two-week rest from school.
Throughout the Holy Week, the Greeks go to church. On Great Friday, Cross-Processions called in Greek Epitaphs and symbolizing the burial of Christ after the death on the cross, pass throughout the whole of Greece late at night. There is something special in this night. The air is filled with the sweet, but not heavy smell of flowers, giving the impression of experiencing this event. Feeling of silence, calmness is there and hearts are ready for the love of Jesus.
If you are in Heraklion this night, do not miss the Epitaph-procession in the centre of the city. Processions of four different churches meet at the main intersection at Lions Square. The sweet smell of rose water is in the air. Streets are filled with people, but free of cars. There are sorrowful sounds of drums. Men and women in traditional costumes, bishops, priests, soldiers and just residents pass with burning candles in their hands, creating a special religious picture.
Otherwise, you will be without success looking for a free table. This supper excluding fish consists of seafood such as squid, octopus, shrimp, and taramasalata (salad with caviar of a pink fish), rice in grape leaves, beans, beets, and salads. This is the only day in 40 days of lent before Resurrection when animal protein is consumed.
In the evening on the Holy Saturday, the worship service will begin with matins liturgy.
One hour before midnight, all people come to church, each holding an unlighted candle. Most of the parishioners are with their candles. The whole month before Easter, these candles are sold in all confectionery and church shops. They are bought and given to each other.
Churches are overcrowded, but you can listen to the worship being outside of the church building thanks to installed speakers. Later, during the service, the light will be extinguished and the priest will come out from behind the altar with a candlelit from the Holy Fire. Holy fire is delivered by air directly from Jerusalem. The sacred fire is transmitted by the priest to people. If you manage to bring the Holy Fire home, then they say that you will have a successful year.
A few minutes before midnight, the priest goes out with the people to the street and at midnight declares the resurrection of Christ. After the priest’s words “Christos Anesti!” cracking and roar start: firecrackers are bursting at the church squares without a halt, and the symbolic Judas is burned at the stake. A doll in human growth, made of old clothes, being burned, symbolizes the death of Judah.
