The Vespers of Love, the joyful and hopeful message of the first Resurrection, the procession of the epitaphs in heroic places, among the decorated tombs, but also in the sea, the lighting of the candles in chapels, and the procession on the second day of Easter, which ends with a traditional feast, are just some of the customs that are revived during Holy Week and Easter in regions of Western Greece and the Peloponnese.
IN PATRA
In Patras, in the afternoon of Easter Sunday, a crowd of believers goes to the holy church of the patron Saint Andrew, where the Vespers of Love is celebrated with religious splendour.
During the vespers, the holy gospel is read in many foreign languages, so that the hope of the resurrection message can be sent everywhere.
Then the procession of the icon of the Resurrection takes place, while after the end of the procession the Metropolitan of Patras, Chrysostomos, offers the faithful an Easter bun and an egg.
One day earlier, on the morning of Holy Saturday, as soon as the church bells ring for the first Resurrection, the merchants of the historic centre of Patras throw merchandise that can cause noise on the streets, wanting to send the joyful message in their own way.
At the same time, in the holy church of Agios Demetrios, in the upper town, the custom of the botias is observed.
In particular, when the moment of the first Resurrection arrives, the priest comes out of the beautiful gate and immediately afterwards throws the boots to be broken, while colourful flowers fall from the women's balcony.
On Good Friday, many believers go to the two municipal cemeteries of Patras in the afternoon hours to follow the procession of the epitaphs, next to the graves, after having left flowers and lit the candles.
Representatives of the city authorities participate in the procession of the epitaphs, while the municipality's band plays mournfully.
On Easter Monday, in Ano Kastritsi, a community near Patras, the custom of «Lesis» is observed.
According to tradition, a religious prayer is held in the church followed by a procession to protect the village from a disaster.
The procession is preceded by the icon of the Resurrection and the holy gospel, followed by the icons and hexapods held in their hands by the villagers. The procession ends in the central square, where a feast follows with the priest being the first to start the dance.
IN THE VILLAGES OF MANI
But also in the villages of Mani, the custom of the procession is observed on the second day of Easter. In the morning the priests start from the churches and the faithful follow them, holding icons and crosses in their hands, while chanting resurrection troparia and prayers.
In many villages the procession goes to the cemeteries, where the relatives of the dead are waiting.
The censer, Easter buns and eggs are placed on the flowered tombs, while on the graves of the dead who passed away just before Easter, there are buns the size of a large rustic bread.
IN NAPAKTO
In Nafpaktos, on the evening of Good Friday, the faithful follow the procession of the epitaphs of Saint Demetrios and Saint Paraskevi, crossing the streets of the city.
The procession of the epitaphs ends at the Venetian harbour, where lit torches are placed on the castle's stoppers, while in the middle of the harbour entrance the torches form a large cross, illuminating the entire coastal area.
According to tradition, the custom combines religious devotion with the heroic effort of the burglar Anemogiannis to torch the Turkish flagship.
IN THE MESSINIAN CITADELS
Apart from Nafpaktos, the procession of the epitaph reaches the harbour and Kitries in Messinia. In fact, the procession starts at 24:00 with the faithful arriving at the village square through the old cobbled street.
Then the fishermen place the epitaph on a boat and, accompanied by all the other boats, make the circle of the bay of Kitrias. Immediately afterwards the epitaph returns to the harbour to continue its procession through the village.
IN LUTRAKI
A similar custom is also observed in Louraki, in Corinthia. Specifically, when the epitaph of the church of Panagia Yatrissa arrives at the coastal road, it is «welcomed» by boats.
Then follows its entry into the sea and its procession through the water, while at the same time fireworks are lit.
IN THE CHEESE OF ARCADIA
However, in Tyros of Arcadia, the procession of the two epitaphs takes place on the coastal road, while they are accompanied by boats and visitors' boats from the sea. From early in the morning of Holy Saturday, the children of the village make sure that the bay is filled with thousands of candles that illuminate the sea.
According to tradition, the lit candles in the sea symbolize the souls of lost sailors and fishermen.
At the time of the Resurrection the «burning of Judas» takes place in the harbour, in a raft, and at the same time the fireworks light up the sky.
IN THE ARGOLIDA VALLEY
The custom of the procession of the epitaph in the sea is also observed in the coastal Tolo of Argolida. As soon as the procession reaches the beach, the young people carrying the epitaph enter the sea, while fishermen on board their boats light colourful fireworks.
According to tradition, the custom has been observed since the years when the inhabitants of Crete moved to Tolo and in this way they want to honour the sea that has nourished them over time.
IN CALMATA
In Kalamata, the custom of «Xamonia» is revived on the evening of Maundy Thursday, after the Passion Service. This particular custom is essentially a pilgrimage of the faithful to the chapels located on the north side of the city. The believers first gather in the «Koufou Olives» area and throughout the night they visit the chapels and light the candles.
IN VONICA
In the town of Vonitsa, in Aitoloakarnania, the custom of «Agraponies» is revived during the Holy Week.
In particular, the «fumigators» gather every night near the sanctuary of the Church of the Holy Apostles and set fire to a pile of wood. Then they «wake up» by singing songs related to the divine drama and social events.
