Festivals

 Summer church fiestas come one after another in July and August. 

We're counting down to 15th August, the biggest holiday of all. The country closes down. 

Many attend church services, especially at a Monastery or church with an icon of the Madonna which performs miracles.

  Islands in the Cyclades are known for their celebrations. Every village sets up chairs and tables in the main Square. There will be live music, local specialities on the menu, wine and song. Greeks and foreigners dance through the night. 

15th August is the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.  It is an important festival in the Orthodox church but also all across Catholic Europe.

On July 26  the church across the valley from us, dedicated to Saint Paraskevi, a female saint who is a protector of the eyes has a service of celebration.   K always attends one or both of the services. This year we went together to the early morning one.  It was cooler than the evening liturgy. 

Poppi with Evita and Luli 

Kneading the dough

Last year 2 of the granddaughters and a friend of theirs had a sleepover.  The girls made a loaf of Holy bread and took it down the next morning.

  This year I didn't make any bread at all.  There is a tradition at these services to bring a loaf with a special Holy stamp and 5 sweet loaves representing the 5 loaves that fed the 5,000.  Was it 5,000.  I have baked these in years gone by and we have taken them to the church along with 3 candles and an offering of olive oil.  In days of yore.  

It's easier to order them from a local bakery or grocer.  

Because of the fire hazard there was a road block about a kilometre from the church.  Cars were stopped but they were allowed to park and everyone had to walk down.  Honestly, if someone wanted to throw a match into the forest it would have been easier if they were on foot.

There was a huge uproar that evening because the taverna next to the road block had live music and roast pig and everyone and their dog were allowed through.

Everyone sits or stands outside.  First of all because it's cooler and secondly because there is only room inside for Priests, chanters and a handful of worshippers.

The service is broadcast by loudspeaker for those outside, which is why we can hear it across the valley at our place

Three mighty cypress trees.  There are half a dozen planted around the church.  

The icon of the Saint decorated with flowers.

As you come come down you pay a few cents and buy a simple beeswax candle, light it and place it in a container of sand before kissing the icon and crossing yourself 3 times.  Or at least that's what K does.

After that he's free to greet friends and neighbours 

One of our bossy neighbours came along muttering about fire hazards and blew all the candles out.  Self-important git.  

There was a murmur of disapproval as he put out the candles but everyone knows him and it was not the time or place to start an argument.  He got blasted later on Facebook.    

Yes. there was/is a fire risk but the candles were not unattended and are only allowed to burn till the end of the service.

Elderly neighbour Vaso came down the steps escorted by her daughter. All the neighbourhood turns up at these yearly services.  She found a chair beside me and we had a quick natter and watched with amusement the flock of young children leaping gleefully up and down the steps.  There were 3 families with about 5 children each.

K nudged me, as he always does, when it was time to stand up, or the priest was to appear swinging the incense burner.   It lets off clouds of aromatic smoke.  

There were baskets and baskets of sweet bread and Holy bread.      This time I  remembered to bring a roomy handbag and a large plastic bag.  I filled up the plastic bag with big chunks of various breads.  As did everyone else I might add.

Some of it was really nice, soft and sweet.  Some loaves had a lot of aniseed and mastiha (a greek spice) in them.  I got a good selection.  Kept in the fridge away from ants they provided K with breakfast for many days.

Further down the hill are the remains of a nunnery.  I don't know much about it's history but it has been gone for many years.  All that's left is the well and a few foundation stones.

Saints' Fiesta Days

JULY

17th Saint Marina

20th Profit Elijah

25th Saint Anna

27th  Agios Panteleimon (male saint)

AUGUST

6th Agios Sotiras (male saint)

15th Virgin Mary

26th Natalia and Adrianos (that's my Luli's name day)

27th Agios Fanourios (male saint) the finder of lost items

30th Saint Alexander

Those are the days of celebration for the more important Saints.  There are quite a few others