Saturday 18 April 2020

Saturday

Still preparing for easter as though we were expecting a few dozen visitors.

Late last night I kneaded enough sourdough for two loaves of Easter bread and those went into the oven this morning.  One loaf went off to another part of the family.




  Offal was chopped and a mountain of lettuce washed for the easter soup, magieritsa, which we will eat as usual after the midnight service, to be watched on television this year.



K was busy preparing a long skewer of offal to go onto the BBQ tomorrow.  Potatoes were peeled, the lamb marinated and everything went into the fridge so hopefully we will have an easier day tomorrow.  Just the two of us





The Holy Light arrived in Athens from Jerusalem at 6pm on a special Aegean airlines flight.  Usually the light is sped off to every island, village, and city in the country and is carried to every household, almost, in the country.  Just before midnight the priest lights his candle inside the church and the flame is passed to the crowds outside, from candle to candle .  This year the light went to a church in Athens where it will be kept burning, until it can safely travel from hand to hand all over Greece .

My daughter and her husband brought us up a Holy Light from a Monastery on the mainland.  


We lit our candles, a couple of lanterns and  festive lambathas from years gone by


And our special easter candles made by my youngest grandaughter.
With these we will make the cross over the door.

We lit candles in 2 lanterns and then called to our one and only close neighbour to come down and take the light up to their house and a phone call to another neighbour brought him down to also take the Holy Light home.  

Most homes this year will have to make do with a candle lit by a cigarette lighter.

20 comments:

  1. Kali Anastasi, Kalo Pascha! Christ is Risen! We still have a few hours to go here in Southern California.

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    1. We have just finished eating the Easter soup and cracked some red eggs. Our neighbourhood only has a few houses but all had their lights on and someone was ringing the bell in the tiny little church down the hill.
      Only two of us but it wasn't too bad

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  2. Xristos anesti
    It’s Sunday morning here. I’ll ring my parents soon and exchange the formal greetings.
    Except for blog land I don’t have anyone close enough to share even simple Easter exchanges with.

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    1. Kronia polla Angela. Warm Easter greetings to you and all your extended family.
      Christos Anesti

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  3. Replies
    1. Thanks Cathy. I'm quite happy to have a quiet Easter this uear

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  4. I love the holy light. You will enjoy your quiet Easter Day tomorrow. I will think of you. x

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    1. Oh yes. Most of the work is done and it will two for tea. Happy day

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  5. Replies
    1. We are enjoying the day and socialising via whatsap

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  6. That is so interesting about the holy light out of Jerusalem......I knew about the happenings there but I had no idea that it went out to every town and village in the Greek Orthodox church.

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    1. The holy flame usually comes to Poros by speed boat, is met by the Mayor and head priest who bring it to the three big churches.

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  7. I'm pleased to see that all your multitudinous religious rites are accompanied by the consumption of plenty of good food, and probably drink.

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    1. Oh yes, starving bears do not dance they say here. Food and drink are vital but so is good company. We are a bit short on the latter today

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  8. I like the lanterns. Have a lovely day.

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    1. They are rusty old IKEA lanterns but still do the job

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  9. The bread looks good, gotta ask what the red is in the middle though? Being Autumn here i need to make another pot of pumpkin bacon soup.

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    1. There is a hard boiled red dyed egg in the middle. You don't eat that

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