Each day of Holy Week is a special event with something specific for each day that makes it unique. It is the culmination of our yearly spiritual preparation for the Resurrection with churches filled with people for the daily services, while many traditional customs are observed.

Easter is one of the most significant holidays of Christianity and Greece has various rituals and customs followed throughout Holy Week to celebrate the period.

Easter is perhaps the most important holiday for Christians and, for many Greeks, it is one of the biggest celebrations not only for its traditions and customs, but also for its church services.

The days of Holy Week leading up to the Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection of Christ are full of devotion that extends far beyond the church.

In addition to the spiritual solemnity and joy of Greek Easter, it is also famous for its food.

For forty days before Easter, many believers, young and old, fast. The period of fasting, called ‘Lent’, is considered a vital means of forging a deeper understanding and spiritual connection to the events leading up to the Resurrection of Christ.

After the Resurrection, believers celebrate by eating roasted lamb (or goat), symbolizing Christ’s death on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of the world (“Jesus, the Lamb of God”).

The consumption of lamb is also associated with the Jewish Passover, which is associated with the exodus from Egypt.

Each day of Holy Week is a special event with specific customs for each day, such as dyeing the eggs on Holy Thursday. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and unpack them from the beginning in order.

Holy Week is the culmination of spiritual preparation for the Resurrection with churches filled with believers participating in daily services, while many traditional customs are observed throughout the country. Hymns, rituals and an atmosphere of devotion recall the passion of Christ and lead to the culmination of the Resurrection.

Holy Monday

Holy Monday is dedicated to the memory of Joseph the Patriarch and the parable of the barren fig tree. The faithful continue their fast and focus on preparing for the ceremonies that follow. In many places, cleaning of houses and courtyards begins in order to have everything ready for Easter.

Holy Tuesday

This day is dedicated to the well-known parable of the Ten Virgins, which reminds believers of the need for spiritual readiness. On the evening of Holy Tuesday, the Troparion of Cassian is sung, one of the most moving hymns of Orthodoxy. In many regions, there is a custom wherein women knead the koulourakia.

Holy Wednesday

This day is dedicated to repentance and the Sacrament of Holy Unction, which is celebrated in churches for blessing and healing. In many parts of Greece, housewives prepare tsoureki and begin dyeing red eggs, although this usually happens on Holy Thursday.

Holy Thursday

On Holy Thursday, the Twelve Gospels are sung, which describe the Passion of Christ, and the Crucifixion of the Lord takes place, one of the most moving moments of Holy Week. The faithful worship the Crucified One, while in homes the custom of dyeing red eggs is observed, symbolizing the blood and sacrifice of Christ, but also the rebirth of life. Women in many parts of Greece also prepare the traditional kouloures and tsourekia, which are intended to be eaten on Easter Sunday.

Good Friday

Good Friday is the most mournful day of Holy Week. The faithful fast strictly, many even abstaining from oil. Throughout the day all over Greece, you will hear the slow, mournful tolling of church bells as the faithful spend the day in quiet reflection and prepare for the funeral service of Christ.

At 9 p.m., people gather at their local churches to form quiet, candlelit processions behind the Epitaph, as it is carried from the church around the neighbourhood, stopping periodically for chanting. The procession depicts Jesus descending into Hell/Hades to save the souls of the dead.

Churches decorate the Epitaph with fragrant flowers and in the evening its procession takes place, followed by a crowd of believers with lighted candles. In many areas, young women gather flowers from the gardens to decorate the Epitaph, while in other places the representation of the Deposition is customary.

Holy Saturday

On the morning of Holy Saturday, the “First Resurrection” is sung, where priests throw laurels into the temple, symbolizing the victory of life over death. The faithful prepare the candles and in the evening gather in the churches holding them, awaiting the joyful message of “Christ is Risen”.

The Holy Light is transported from Jerusalem and distributed to the faithful throughout the country. According to custom, after the Resurrection, families return to their homes for the traditional magiritsa, a meal that marks the end of fasting.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is a day of celebration and joy. Early in the morning, the traditional lamb is roasted on a spit, while the atmosphere is filled with music and dancing. Accompanying dishes include kokoretsi, tsourekia and red eggs, which those present crack while saying. “Χριστός Ανέστη” και “Αληθώς Ανέστη” (which means “Christ has Risen” and “Truly Risen”).

In many areas, the feast is accompanied by traditional dances and songs, while families gather to celebrate the day together. The “Agapi” service is held on Easter Sunday, which includes the reading of the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection and the distribution of Holy Communion. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is held, which includes the service of the Holy Eucharist.

Easter customs in Greece

Each region of Greece has its own special customs. In Chios, on Easter night, the impressive rocket war takes place between the parishes of Vrontados, where thousands of rockets are launched, creating a unique spectacle.

In Lesvos, old customs are revived with fireworks and traditional dances. In Naxos, the custom of “koutsounta” is observed, where believers revive old practices of feasting and dancing. In Crete, many areas burn Judas, an effigy that symbolizes the betrayal of Christ. In Kerkyra, on the morning of Holy Saturday, the “custom of the boots” takes place, where residents throw clay pots full of water from their balconies, symbolizing the joy of the Resurrection.

Greek Orthodox Easter is a unique experience, full of religious devotion, folk traditions and a family atmosphere. It is a celebration of hope and rebirth.

The preparations, services and festive customs offer Greeks a deep sense of tradition and faith that continues to be passed down from generation to generation.