When we were children, we longed for Easter to come. A big part of our lives, even many of our games, had to do with Christ and the Church. We thought that Jesus was actually crucified every Holy Friday and we used to get really sad about it. We were innocent and we used to think with our hearts, not our minds. We were not concerned about time and we used to enjoy life as a gift from God.

Tiny sins

On Holy Monday we started getting hungry, although fasting had begun only a few hours ago. On Holy Tuesday we used to run to church to listen to the Hymn of Kassiani, but after a while we got bored bored and started asking each other how much time there was left until it let out. On Holy Wednesday we were doubly careful as not to wipe the Holy Essence off our faces*. We would, however, do anything in our power to swipe it off our friends’ faces. During evening mass of Holy Thursday, we would secretly kick each other in the Church and bet on who would be the first to kiss the cross after the fifth gospel was read.

On Holy Friday we would actually turn to physical violence in order to determine who would be the one to ring the church bells mournfully. Despite felling guilty about it, on the evening of Holy Saturday we would start violating the fasting, secretly swiping some Easter buns. On Easter Sunday we would invent excuses to avoid turning the lamb on the spit, a task which requires patience and dedication -values that only adults can have.

Everyone was happy

We were impressed that everyone was happy and all houses were open in Easter. Even the supposedly harsh neighbors, who used to live entrenched behind their walls during the rest of the year, would insist on pulling us into their homes on Easter Sunday in order to offer us delicious snacks. Back then, Easter would magically affect people’s mood and make them more tolerant and generous.

*On Holy Wednesday, Greek Orthodox priests read the seven gospels and bless the Holy Essence, the oil used to cleanse believers from their sins and pain. Priests use this oil to bless their flock, making small crosses on their foreheads, cheeks and hands.
TEXT-PHOTOS: GEORGE ZAFEIROPOULOS
SOURCE: www.greecewithin.com

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