Orthodox Easter

Easter is the most important religious festival in Greece. From the major streets to the back alleys, everything is beautifully lighted with candles and midnight fireworks, and grilled lamb is unquestionably one of the must-have dishes during these events. Some Greek islands are also known for their own distinctive Easter celebrations, which draw enormous crowds of Greeks and visitors from all over the world to come and participate in.

Each day of Easter week, or Holy Week, is marked by a distinct event. It all starts on Lazarus Saturday (one week before Easter Sunday), when youngsters go door-to-door singing the 'Lazaros' song and collecting money and eggs. Throughout the week, inhabitants adorn their churches and epitaphs, perform daily services, fast, and observe special rituals, bringing villages, towns, and cities to life.

Easter Sunday is a day for eating and festivity, with lamb roasts and joy. It's a fantastic opportunity to be welcomed to a Greek household. Traditional dance and pyrotechnics sometimes follow a leisurely midday lunch on flower-draped tables. The Monastery of St John the Theologian on Patmos holds one of the greatest festivities as a significant Christian pilgrimage site.

If you're planning an Orthodox Easter trip to Greece, keep in mind that the date of Greek Orthodox Easter is determined by the Julian calendar, thus it may not coincide with Catholic Easter, which is determined by the Gregorian calendar.

Takes place: between April 4 and May 8