Two days before Holy Week begins in Greece, thousands of Greeks have already started leaving the Greek capital for the countryside and the islands, in what is expected to be yet another mass exodus ahead of the Easter holidays.
Despite the hefty ferry prices, early Friday morning ferries bound for Cycladic islands such as Paros, Naxos, Santorini, Ios and other destinations were departing the port of Piraues, Greece’s largest port, at 70 percent capacity, signalling the beginning of the annual Easter getaway. Among the travelers there were also many tourists as this year Orthodox and Catholic Easters coincide.
At the same time, traffic at toll stations outside of Athens, which travelers must drive through to reach destinations in northern or southern Greece, was heavy, with drivers facing long delays in both directions.
This is the first wave of travelers ahead of the Easter holidays. In the coming days, authorities expect a surge in journeys and are implementing a series of heightened safety measures to ensure smooth and secure journeys across the country.
The Greek Police have announced enhanced safety and security protocols, from Friday, April 11, until April 27, across roads, ports and airports nationwide. According to police, the enhanced safety measures include increased traffic patrols at the entry and exit points of major urban centers, increased monitoring of ports, airports and bus stations, and targeted policing at accident prone sections.
Dedicated traffic control units will be conducting rotating checks across Greece’s road network, focusing on violations involving driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, failing to wear seatbelts and helmets, using mobile phones while driving, and driving without a valid license.
Things you need to know ahead of Greek Orthodox Easter as Greeks begin their mass holiday getaway
Greek Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, is the most important religious feast of the year, with customs and traditions that have been part of Christianity for two thousand years.
The 40-day period of Lent before Easter, the solemnity of Holy Week, the rich symbolism, and the unique traditions of Orthodox Easter make it very different from Easter as celebrated by Roman Catholics, Protestants, and other Western Christians.
Every Easter, Greeks thank and honor Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins, and we celebrate the miracle of the Resurrection, the rise of Jesus Christ from the dead, and the promise of an afterlife.
Greeks prepare for Easter forty days prior to the great feast, with fasting, prayer, and the attendance of liturgies through to Holy Saturday when the resurrection of Christ is celebrated on Easter Sunday.
In Holy Week the church’s liturgies run for hours and hours. Also called Passion Week, the gospels read in church during this time recount the Passion of Christ, the painful days that led Him to the Cross and finally to Resurrection.
Holy Thursday liturgies are the most heartbreaking of all as Christ’s betrayal is recalled, and he is led to his death at the end of the day.
On Holy Friday, church bells throughout Greece ring mournfully all day long, and in the evening there is the Procession of the Epitaphios—a recreation of the tomb of Christ—in each parish.
Finally, at midnight of Holy Saturday comes the moment that all Orthodox Greeks around the world eagerly anticipate: The Resurrection ceremony when the faithful can finally greet one another by saying “Christos Anesti!” (Christ is risen!).
Greeks spend Easter Sunday morning slow-roasting the delicious lamb, and then the whole family gathers at the table to eat. All the preparations and the turning of the spit are a communal experience.
The whole Easter Sunday experience builds strong bonds between family and friends on the most holy of days for Greek Orthodoxy.
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