Epitafios - What is it?

I thought I would share with you some of the lovely photographs taken of the "Epitafios" is some of our local churches.

But first Easter Greetings from the Mayor and council:

Ο Δήμαρχος Αποκορώνου Χαράλαμπος Κουκιανάκης,τα μέλη του Δημοτικού Συμβουλίου, οι Πρόεδροι & τα μέλη των Δημοτικών & Τοπικών Κοινοτήτων και το προσωπικό του Δήμου Αποκορώνου.

Σας εύχονται Καλό Πάσχα !

Το Φως της Ανάστασης ας φωτίσει τη ζωή μας και ας μας οδηγήσει στο δρόμο της αγάπης,της αδελφοσύνης,της αρετής και της αλληλεγγύης.

Εγκάρδιες ευχές για υγεία, οικογενειακή ευτυχία και δημιουργία.

The Mayor of Apokoronas Charalambos Koukianakis, members of the City Council, the Presidents and members of Municipal & Local Communities and the Apokoronas municipality staff.

wish you Happy Easter!

The Light of the Resurrection illuminate our lives and let us lead us on the way of love, brotherhood, virtue and solidarity.

Heartfelt wishes for good health, family happiness and creativity

What is the "Epitafios"

On Good Friday the Church mourns the death and burial of Christ. Housewives usually do not do any housework on that day avoiding even cooking. Instead, women and children go to church and decorate the Epitaph with flowers they either buy or pick from their own gardens. In the evening, the Epitaph procession takes place in the towns and villages visiting the local cemeteries  and On it's return to the church the faithful enter the church again by going under it to receive God’s grace.

Many people drink vinegar on that day in resemblance to the vinegar given to Jesus on the cross. Here in Crete  snails are boiled and the bitter juice is sometimes drunk. In many villages men stop doing any work that might involve nails or spikes, remembering Christ’s death on the Cross.

Kalamitsi Alexandrou

Gavalohori

Kalamitsi Amigdali

Vrysses

Fres

Vamos

Thank you to everyone who has kindly shared their photographs