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The little church across the waters opens its doors for its celebratory church service. The maiden aunts and a m-in-law live just round the corner and look after the church. They have been cleaning, arranging flowers and baking bread to be blessed on this morning.
Agia Anna
26th July Saint Paraskevi
This is the day our little church has its fiesta. The neighbourhood fills up every year for this Saint's day. All our neighbours have arrived from Athens and beyond to dust out their family homes, fire up the oven and prepare to celebrate.
The land around us was owned once by the Poulaki family. The five sons built houses, some of the land was parcelled out to relatives and our house was eventually sold to us by a cousin's daughter who no longer wanted to own an old house on a small piece of land in the middle of nowhere.
The brothers have scattered but always return for the church service and a family get together.
Last year and for many years gone by the biggest party took place on the beach below us. The boys at the beach canteen arranged for suckling pigs to be roasted, extra fridges for the beer and a truck load of rented chairs and tables. The music was always a live band and the revelry went on till sun-up the next morning.
This year there is no beach bar. The party has moved up to Paradise Taverna at the top of our hill. There will still be roast pig and cold beer
There is not enough room inside so chairs are placed outside
You sit where you can find a seat
The five loaves are stuck with candles ready to be blessed
The icon of Agia Paraskevi is carried round the church
There follows a long lecture from the Monastery priest about women covering themselves from head to foot and men not touching any woman till he is married, in church. Finally a great many loaves are cut (no fishes) and given to the crowds
These are photos from the service on the eve of the Saints Day. There will another, longer service tomorrow morning.
I lit a couple of candles. Always one for myself and one for all the victims of those horrendous wild fires on the outskirts of Athens. So many people killed in such a horrific way. The flames were fanned by very strong winds and the fire reached these seaside villages before the people were aware they were in danger.
We live in the same sort of area, with dry grass, pine and olive trees around us. We are so careful during these dry months but all it needs is a careless spark.
If the fire is caught in the first minute it can be put out with a glass of water
After two minutes a bucket is needed
three minutes a tank of water
four minutes and it is too late.
..................
www.local-kiwi-alien.blogspot.com
As always, I love to read about your various celebrations, and I kid you not, reading these posts always makes me want to grill something or eat some tomatoes, or drink some wine. :) I can't imagine how horrible it has been for the people affected by the fires. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteIt's too hot for all that fatty pork but it has to be on the menu at any of these fiestas. We stew snails around this time. Post coming up. Bet you won't be craving those!
DeleteSo many celebrations which all involve food. The terrible fires in Greece and tragic loss of life is horrendous. Amazing how it jumped over some areas and totally burnt up others. Interesting about the time frame of a fire. Do hope all goes well were you are.
ReplyDeleteI'm crossing !y fingers for another safe summer. We live in a dead-end-road so I'll be out of there at the first whiff of trouble. I'm very aware of the danger in the summer.
DeletePoros has had some by fires but nothing catastrophic. It is covered in pines so always a hazard
It is so sad what happened in your country, i live in a rural area too and always so afraid of wild fires in the summer.
ReplyDelete81 people killed so far and dozens missing. I'm always aware of the danger in the summer and sometimes I think I can smell smoke and go out and look around and check up on any smoke on the horizon.
DeleteWe've had a few small fires around us but so far they've been put out very quickly.
Are the natives all very religious, or do they simply follow tradition? I suspect the latter.
ReplyDeleteWe were so shocked by all those deaths; these things should not happen. If it turns out to have been started deliberately, then it will be mass murder of the worst sort.
You know I was thinking about why they all attend these services and even made a list but the post was already too long. I looked around at them last night. I went to take some photos. I am sure tradition plays a huge part. It is also a very happy get together and there s mostly more chat and socialising than listening to the priest. Then almost always some sort of food and drink to follow.
DeleteDo they believe in it all? Some do. They believe in prayer and those candles they light are a most important ritual.
An ages old tradition anyway!!!
Such interesting history, of where you live.
ReplyDeleteThese festivals are wonderful. :-) Gathering all around, for feasting and fun.
And camaraderie.
"There follows a long lecture from the Monastery priest about women covering themselves from head to foot and men not touching any woman till he is married, in church."
ReplyDeleteOh mercy, where did this women-covering-themselves-from-head-to-foot, come from???? It sounds positively Islamic!
When Islam conquered in Europe, were some of its rules, incorporated by the Orthodox Christian religions????
Have you ever questioned, where this radical teaching, came from?
Wow, I'd be all over this! -grin- I'd be quizzing that old monastery priest!!! In a sweet and quiet way, of course.
Wouldn't want to scare the *bijippers* out of him. ,-) Acting like a non submissive woman and all.
But then, you have to live there. You probably are not free, to question. -sigh-
Wisp of words, Christianity came before Islam, they both use the old testament and there are many verses about modesty and hair being the crowning glory that only a husband should see... that could be why once women married they wore their hair up as to not show how long it was.
DeleteMary is always portrayed as wearing long dress and a covering for her head. Both being modest and covering her crowning glory.
There is also the thing that covering your head stopped the sun from baking your head and kept dust and sand out of your hair, which would have been a pain to keep washing as they had no hair dryers. In other Catholic countries they wear the mantilla to church. They also cover their hair in India which could also be a cleanliness thing.
Jewish ladies also wear modest apparel and my friend even have dozens of expensive wigs as no one sees her hair but her husband.
Mormons (LDS) also are taught to be modest and wear special garments/underwear.
Most religions are taught to be modest. Some religions are older than others and some are cultural due to extreme heat.
Religion is something I have really looked at hard and love this type of question.
Any hardened religious people who are Christians, ask them, 'do you eat prawns?' If so then they are breaking with what is taught. And what about bacon? Leviticus 11:10 for shell fish and Leviticus 11:7-8 for pig products. Both old testament.
I think the Priest would have loved talking about it as it makes it relevant to todays lives. ;)
Talk back to the priest? Never. You'd be out on your ear with cries of 'satan' before you'd finished your sentence!
DeleteThis one and his brother at the monastery are known for being fanatics and have driven many away.
When he starts these diatribes people just roll their eyes and mutter about burkas. All his sermons are extreme and he answers any questions with the certainty that God has spoken to him and only he knows the truth.
On the other hand he drives the latest model big black jeep and eyes any women 'undressed' all over before casting her from his sight!!
lol
Delete"...eyes any women 'undressed' all over before casting her from his sight!!"
Deletelol Don't you just love the Hypocrisy of religion??!!??
Right!
DeleteThinking of everyone in lovely Greece at this horrific time.
ReplyDeleteHold your nearest and dearest and children so close.xx
Thinking of all my Greek friends who are safe now .but thoughts are with those that didn,t make it .Huggs ❤️❤️����
Kirrie xx. Blogger does not recognise me tried to reset pasword computer says no, so anonymous with my name works xx
Thanks
DeleteWe have been watching the fires with horror. Here in Australia we all live in fear of summer and the fire season
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you all
Wild fire is so fast and so fierce. Hard to understand people who stay behind and try to save their house education even if it was a lifetime work. Horrific stories coming out.
DeleteDelete the education, spell checker!
Delete