Paros Celebrates Easter in Cycladic Island Style

Paros. Photo © Lemonakis Antonis / Shutterstock

Cathedral on Paros Island.

Greek Orthodox Easter traditions will come to life on the Cycladic island of Paros, this year, with everything from religious rites and rituals to gastronomic habits of yesteryear.

Throughout the island’s whitewashed villages, the sights, sounds and smells of Easter will linger as guests will have a chance to participate in the traditions of the Cycladic isles during Holy Week and leading up to Easter Sunday.

Guests will have the chance to experience the deeply rooted traditions and rituals of Orthodox Easter, including the epitaphios (flower-adorned bier) processions on Holy Friday throughout the island’s villages and streets as bells toll mournfully and the sweet scent of rose-water fills the air.

Representation of the Passions of Christ will take place in Marpissa, Paros.

Holy Friday on Paros will see a representation of the Passions of Christ by the island’s children. Furthermore, the epitaphios procession on Holy Friday leads up to the Resurrection of Christ (Anastasi), a service which takes place at midnight on Holy Saturday and is celebrated on Easter Sunday with roast lambs, song and dance.