Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Holy Week

St. Irene, the little church that stands next to our home, high above the Cretan sea.

Hello dear readers, it's Holy Week here in Greece, a peaceful and quiet time, when the Greek Orthodox Church relives the last days of Jesus' life, beginning Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Sunday.

Allium Subhirsutum dot the perimeter of an old Olive tree, softening its rugged, claw-like trunk.

Days are spent cleaning and preparing 
our home for the celebratory feast.

A close up of Allium Subhirsutum, commonly known as Hairy Garlic.

Church services in the evenings, bring people
together in prayer and unity, at this most 
solemn time, days before Christ is crucified.

The hilly meadow behind our home. A petaled path strikes one's curiosity to follow it.

We follow Him to His death on the cross, and mourn at His 
funeral, in the Service of Lamentations, on Good Friday.

Fresh beginnings are evident all around the village. Here, new vine leaves bask in the midday sun.

Then, alas, at the stroke of midnight, on Holy Saturday, 
we rejoice, 'Christos Anesti!' (Christ is Risen!), as our
 hearts are filled with the joy and hope of His rebirth.


For a more detailed account of Greek Orthodox Easter,
please visit my first post, here. To my friends who 
celebrate, wishing you a most blessed Easter.

xo
Poppy 

34 comments:

  1. I can feel the quiet and ease in the air, and it's wonderful! Love it. I wish you a great Easter.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  2. I know you will have a beautiful celebration. Blessings to you my friend. Hugs, Diane

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  3. Hello, lovely flowers and scenes. Happy Easter to you and your family!

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  4. Hallelujah, Christ Arose! What a beautful post in word and photos, sweet Poppy!

    I hope you have a most blessed and beautiful Easter. Love and hugs to you!

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  5. Such a beautiful post, dear Poppy, and your photos are lovely! Thank you so much for sharing, and I hope you have a lovely Easter! Hugs. :)

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  6. Γεια σου Poppy ...so beautiful pictures
    i love spring and the flowers ...and i love the traditions from thegreek holy week ...happy Easter to you ....Καλη Ανασταση !!!
    hugs

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  7. It is such a beautiful time of year in the Christian church. Your post is lovely and I wish you a blessed Easter weekend. xx Pam

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  8. The little church near your home looks charming!
    The flowers and new wine leaves add a lot to the festive atmosphere embracing your greek village during this Holy week.
    Enjoy both the beauty of nature and the spirituality of the religious holiday!

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  9. Happy Easter Poppy,
    I love the entire time of Easter and how beautifully you describe the custom in Greece.
    I am sure it feels very special We are remember in a similar way here in Ireland. I love this time of year. Hope you have a very special time with your family and friends

    Helen x

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  10. The little sweet church, with its red tiled roof and bright white facade, looks almost too cute to be real. Truly the stuff of fairy tales.

    Happy Easter my friend!

    XXX

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  11. Beautiful pictures and message !! Easter is coming !

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cindy,

      Thanks so much for visiting.

      Enjoy Easter, my friend!

      Poppy

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  12. oh poppy!
    i read your post on the celebration of easter. all the lights shared and then over the doorway... and the fireworks lighting up the dark sky!
    and the feasting after the solemn painful week of thinking was took place.
    it is all so beautiful! thank you for sharing that.
    and just on a personal private note ... i'm so glad you don't eat little lambs either! :)
    love you darling bean! have a blessed easter celebration. XOXO♥

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  13. This is absolutely my favorite week of the year in Greece (or anywhere for that matter). The church bells have been ringing calling the faithful (who speak Greek ;-) ) to worship and the excitement begins building today for this most special weekend before us. Blessed Easter wishes, Poppy!

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  14. Hi Poppy, you captured the beauty of Crete again so perfectly! I am really in awe of your photography. The last one with the white church in the sparse fields of freshly growing vine, simply wonderful.
    Wishing you Happy Easter!
    Christina

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  15. Poppy you have the perfect backdrop for a new beginning and a glorious Easter celebration. I wish you "Xristos Anesti" my friend. You are in the right place!

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  16. What a glorious time of year! Your photos are just stunning and bring such joy to the season that is already so joyful! He is risen INDEED! Hugs to you, sweet Poppy and I wish you blessed Holy Week and Easter Sunday!♥

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  17. Poppy, Your post is beautiful. I am Catholic and we have several events going on at our parish. Holy week is a time of reflection for us. LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!

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  18. To be able to see St. Irene from your home must bring you joy, Poppy. I love reading about your preparation for Easter, both in your heart and your home. I'll be thinking of you as the time progresses to the Service of Lamentations and Holy Saturday and then to the celebration with family and friends on Easter Sunday fully of joy that Christ is risen.

    Thank you for the link to the fuller account of Holy Week in your previous post, both are so beautifully written, dear friend.

    Love to you,
    Dewena

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  19. Such beautiful flowers and countryside. Happy Easter.

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  20. Happy Easter to you and your family this joyous weekend!

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  21. Oh Poppy, what a beautiful post. I love the little church and how you spend Holy Week. Your pictures are stunning and I love the little village.

    Wishing you and Liberty a Wonderful Blessed Easter.

    Hugs dear friend,

    Mary

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  22. You did a beautiful job of bringing the special atmosphere of the season to the page, dear Poppy. Wishing you a happy Easter holiday.
    Amalia
    xo

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  23. Wishing you a happy Easter too...our Lord has risen!

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  24. This is such a special time in the Christian church calendar. Today is Good Friday, and as I go about preparing for our Easter dinner with family (which will actually be on Saturday due to in-law plans), I am mindful of the suffering of Christ on our behalf. And then, oh the joy of Easter!

    Thank you for this glimpse (and the more detailed one) of Easter in Greece.

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  25. Oh, what lovely pictures! Everything looks so beautiful. I'm going to go read your account of a Greek Orthodox Easter. Sounds beautiful. Looking forward, with you, to celebrating His resurrection on Sunday, and thankful for His great love. xo Deborah

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  26. The week sounds very moving and wonderful, Poppy. Just want to wish you and yours a very Happy Easter! God Bless! Bess

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  27. That pic of the hilly meadow behind your home looks like some of my pics I shot on the Botanical Trail above Ventura. And, I have a shot of daisies almost identical to your last pic.

    Happy Easter

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  28. Looks and sounds so beautiful! God bless you and yours this Easter.

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  29. Poppy, what a beautiful post to celebrate the most Holy of weeks! Blessings to you my friend!

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  30. So happy for you and that you are back to your home by the sea!
    Blessings always,
    Jemma

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  31. Holy week is the week everyone feels so close to God!!! Xristos Anesti my friend :)

    https://artdecorationcrafting.blogspot.gr

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Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate hearing from all of you! Have a great day!