The Holy Week in Greece

When it comes to choosing the best time to visit Greece, everyone thinks immediately the summer! They are not to blame since the Greek beaches are crystal clear with turquoise waters. Who wouldn’t like to enjoy them?

Nevertheless, the revival of the diverse variety in the Greek Nature happens, in Easter. Is it by accident? Not at all. The rebirth of Nature is related to Jesus’ Resurrection.

The whole week before Easter Sunday is called ‘’The Holy Week’’; it is a blessed and unique experience to be in Greece during this time. In a big town or even better in a village or ideally on an island. No matter if you are religious or not, you will still enjoy Easter Sunday and the whole week before it. There is such a beautiful atmosphere everywhere. People are getting ready for their greatest Holiday, which is Easter, actually, they are looking forward to Saturday night when the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated; ‘’Anastassis’’ means resurrection and it symbolizes the victory over death.

On the first three days of the week Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, everyone starts the preparations for the Easter celebration. If you have the chance to be on an island or in a village you will be lucky enough to experience the traditional rituals that are still alive nowadays and have fascinating symbolism and stories behind them.

Tsoureki, Easter Bread

On Holy Thursday, people paint the eggs red (that’s why it’s called Red Thursday as well) and prepare the delicious Easter cookies, ‘’tsoureki’’! Tsoureki is a plaited dough, covered with sesame. Its flavorful taste comes from a secret ingredient… mastic! Mastic trees grow on Chios island and have many uses. Join our wonderful Athens Food Tour and try it as a liquor!

The same day, there is the longest church service, till midnight!

On Holy Friday, everything is closed until 12:00 noon and almost no one is working. It is the day of "Epitafios", the day of Crucifixion. In a sorrowful atmosphere, people go to cemeteries to honor their dead and later in the evening follow the Epitafios (decorated with beautiful flowers). The "Epitafios" symbolizes Jesus’ dead body), which is carried around the streets of the neighborhood where the church belongs, while everybody holding brown candles. Each church has its own "Epitafios".

If you intend to visit some Museum or site on this day you should know that they are closed until 12:00 and open for a few hours but you will be compensated by visiting a few churches to see the Epitafios and to pray. It is so nice to hear every 5 minutes the sad ringing of the bells.

Easter Saturday

Οn Saturday we celebrate the Resurrection, "Anastassis", the peak of the Orthodox Easter rituals. Later in the evening, people gather in churches to receive the holy light, holding pretty candles, beautifully decorated with toys those of the children, colorful or white ones those of the adults. After the resurrection service very late at night, they gather at home to have dinner together and clink the red painted eggs! If your egg is the one not broken, you continue playing with the others and there is a final lucky winner!

The following day, Easter Sunday is the joy of life! People gather to celebrate, drink and grill the famous lamb!

If you don’t have any friends in Greece, who could invite you to their flowery gardens to party together, do not hesitate to stroll around because you will surely meet someone who will host you or give you information on where to go that special day!

If you happen to be here in Athens during the Holy week, some very popular churches to receive the Holy Light and experience that moment among locals, is Saint George (Ayios Yeoryios) in Lycabettus Hill the Athens Cathedral on Mitropoleos road or St.Catherine's Church on Lysicrates road or at the Aghion Anargiron Church (known as the Metochi of Panaghiou Tafou) at the junction of Erechteos and Prytaneiou road in Plaka. It will be really crowded but since they are really central, if you want to watch you have to go there earlier to get a good spot, or you can just pass by and see from afar.

You may attend the evening procession of Good Friday (April 27, 2019) which begins at about 8:00pm and the celebration of Jesus resurrection on Saturday April 28,2019 which begins at 11:30pm.

After the resurrection service very late at night, they gather at home to have dinner together and clink the red painted eggs! If your egg is the one not broken, you continue playing with the others and there is a final lucky winner!

The following day, Easter Sunday is the joy of life! People gather to celebrate, drink and grill the famous lamb!

The wish goes Kalo Pascha and chronia polla!

Tuesday, 19 March 2019

Things to do in Athens

Cultural - Historical

Shared Private Athens Tours

Shore excursions