Easter

Greek Orthodox Easter 05th MAY 2013

Easter in Corfu

Easter in Corfu is unique. It has a mixture of East and West and of ecclesiastical, civic and military pomp which gives it a strongly individual flavour.

The splendour of the occasion is increased by the fact that Easter in the Orthodox countries often falls later than in the West and the brilliant sunshine

and the new green of the trees give the ceremonies a natural framework of great beauty. To this Spring scene are added the handsome Venetian and Georgian

buildings of the town. For Corfu was occupied by the Venetians for 400 years and under British Protectorate for 50 years when it was the capital of the small Ionian state.

Good Friday is the day of the Epitaphios, the funeral of Christ. All over the island, as all over Greece, every church brings out its own funeral bier and

parades it around the parish. In Corfu however, the attendant philharmonic orchestras and choirs, the presence of thousands of Corfiots as well as foreignvisitors, give another dimension to the gravity of the occasion. On Holy Saturday at 11 a.m. the First Resurrection and the "Pot Throwing" custom take place,

and the local people throw pots out of their windows, smashing them onto the streets below.
In the evening, before the Orthodox ceremony takes place, you may attend the Catholic service at the Duomo Cathedral. With the participation of all Church

officials, the Resurrection service finishes here at 11 pm, to permit the clergy time to pre pare themselves for the Orthodox service. All over Greece the

ceremony takes place on a platform outside the church. In Corfu town, the service is held in the Upper Esplanade Square, starting at the Church of AgiaParaskevi, with the, participation of the Bishop, the philharmonic orchestras, and thousands of people
. The Resurrection is seen in with a roll of drums and an impressive firework display, and when this ends the bands traverse the streets of the town at a

great pace playing cheerful music, with people running behind them singing.

The party has only just begun, and will last until dawn. The Resucrection is celebrated and the Lenten fast is broken with chilihourda (the local Eastersoup), red eggs, fogatsa (brioche), columbines (a special bread of Venetian origin, baked in the form of a dove) and of course lots of wine. Easter Sunday at7 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning, churches in town which possess an icon of the Resurrection parade it around the central streets, something which is wellworth seeing.

Easter in Kassiopi

The church of Kassiopi, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the second most ancient church on the island of Corfu, is the starting point of the holy procession on Good Friday at around 20:00. A large crowd follows behind the procession of the miraculous icon as it is carried around the village accompanied by the local choir.

 

At the traditional and amphitheatrically set harbour of Kassiopi, at precisely midnight on Good Saturday, the local priest followed by his congregation will call out “Christos Anesti” (Christ has risen) giving the signal for fireworks to shoot up from the Castle of Kassiopi and the harbour piers, lighting up the night sky with a reddish shade.

 

Following the Easter festivities, the party goes on with lots of music and dancing all the way through the night at the local bars and restaurants, where the locals and visitors will gather to wish each other well.

 

Easter Sunday is not a day to rest, but to… eat!

 

After 40 days of fasting, families & friends will get together either at home roasting the Easter lamb or in restaurants, devouring all that their bellies relish. Traditional food includes the avgolemono (lemon soup with rice & egg white froth), lamb & lamb intestines roasted on the spit, hard boiled eggs coloured red, sweet bread and lots and lots of wine… or beer.

 

Then, don’t be mislead into believing it’s all over, since on the evening of Easter Monday at about 18:00 in Kassiopi, there is one more procession to add to your program.