Good FrIday

An overcast day with light showers.  As it should be on a day of mourning.  Christ was taken down off the cross in big city churches and small village chapels all over the country.  Church bells tolled the slow death knell all day long.

This is a day of strict fast, for most.  Our lunch was boiled potatoes, tomatoes, cucumber with a little vinegar and some bread. I had oil on my salad though, sinner that I am, and I had milk in my coffee.  No alcohol is consumed in our house on Good Friday.  There is a story there which one day I may tell. Let me just say that in years gone by much, much alcohol was consumed on this day.

Monastery entrance with its tall cypress tree

Looking into the courtyard

At 6pm we made our way slowly up to the monastery weaving through lines of cars and roads lined with tourists and city slickers making their way into town.  The Monastery holds its services earlier and we went to take part in the first parade of Christ's bier.  Even me, though I was extremely wary on the uneven stone steps.  Wouldn't want to tumble down those.

The bier was beautifully decorated with white and purple flowers

Tonight we hold plain brown beeswax candles with a plastic holder to catch any drips.  This one is years old and had to be reinforced with a few leaves to hold the candle in place.  Small boys take great delight in these plastc holders.  If they're held in the 'right' way they can catch on fire.

My night photos do not turn out well.  It is dusk and the procession of  the faithful holding their candles and following the bier goes down the hill to the beach before coming back up the road and into the church again.  I stayed up the top this year.  The priests chant almost the whole journey and a very scratchy, squawky and elderly speaker box sends the intoning out to those at the rear

It was still early so we drove slowly through the crowded roads down to the parking on the harbour.  Poros is bulging.  There can't be many empty hotel rooms or beds this weekend.  The harbour parking was jam-packed.  We parked further away and walked.  

Everyone was out for the candlelight parade of the four churches.  Every few steps we stopped to greet friends and relatives and wish them a 'Kali Anastasi", Good Resurrection'.  One of our grandsons was an altar boy and the youngest grandaughter a flower bearer.  Their father got in line to take his turn at carrying the heavy wooden platform

Poros harbour lit up by the candles of the faithful.  On the harbour road in the middle of town the four churches meet, each with their flower bedecked bier.  The procession from the big harbour church is brought by sea on one of the big fishing boats.  There is a short service in town and then they all return to their churches.  Many peel off to look for an empty table at a cafe or taverna for an ouzo and some seafood.

I limped back to the car with a sore knee.  I must have knocked it a little yesterday.  I also have some bruises in wierd places.  

Tomorrow is a busy day with all the final preparations for Sunday's feast.