Easter Firework Battle

Since it is Easter I thought of a weird tradition that people in the island of Chios in the Aegean have. The firework battle between two communities, the community of St. Mark and the community of Virgin Mary Etithiani has been attracting visitors for 200 years. This began due to some hostilities that existed between the two neighbourhoods but has become a spectacular show for locals and visitors.  

This battle commences after the priests have chanted the Christos Anesti (Christ is Risen). After this occasion normally everyone wishes each other with the Pascal greeting and then go to eat. But Chios has retained this magnificent and somewhat dangerous tradition!

Epitafios

Today we celebrated the burial of Jesus Christ. A tradition within the Orthodox Church is the Epitafio, which is decorated with many beautiful flowers and which symbolises His Tomb. His body will remain in the Tomb until His resurrection, on Easter day.

The pictures here are from three different Greek Orthodox Churches in London and show how there have different shapes, colours but the Epitafios is still a symbol of Jesus' Tomb. Normally, if the weather is good enough, the believers take the Epitafios around the Church, i.e. a Litany. This was the case at the Church of All Saints, where we took the Epitafios and followed it around the church, halting all traffic. This was a great example of how Christianity persists and prevails in an ongoing secular society which cannot tell the difference between tolerance and persecution (especially against Christianity). 

All Saints Cathedral, Camden Town

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Michael, Golders Green

St. Panteleimon Church, Harrow