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The celebration of Easter has already begun on our island. Visitors not only from all over Greece but internationally as well have made their way to Zakynthos to enjoy a unique experience.
The highlight of the week being the Epitaph, which is celebrated on Holy Friday. Many villages are also celebrating but one stands out in regards to traditions, that is no other than the village of Ambelokipi and the church of Saint Nicholoas, which is one of the biggest villages located just outside Zakynthos town. It is here that you will hear the well known lament to our Virgin Mother. This year it will be sung by the children’s choir “Rodakia” and the women’s choir “Rodambelos”. Other highlights are religious events that take place within the churches are; the Mitropolitan Church of Saint Nicholaos, Faneromeni and of course our Patron Saint’s church, Dionysios.
Of course each an every village church will have their own programme for services throughout the Holy week, the times will not differ as such.
Here is a programme for the main religious events below:-
Holy Tuesday,
At 7:30 p.m., Service will be held in the Holy Metropolitan Church and churches across Zakynthos. The Highlight being the churhc of Faneromeni in Zakynthos town with their men’s choir.
Holy Wednesday,
At 4 p.m., the Sacrament of the Eucharist will be celebrated at the General Hospital of Zakynthos “AGIOS DIONYSIOS” and
At 6:30 p.m. the Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in the Holy Church of Agios Dionysios.
Holy Thursday,
At 8 am, the Holy Liturgy of the Great St. Basil will be celebrated in the Holy Metropolitan Church of Agios Nikolaos.
At 7:30 p.m., the Mass of the Orthrus of Great Friday (Holy Passion) will be celebrated in the Holy Church of Agios Dionysios.
Good Friday,
During the early hours our Patron Saint will be among his people to pay respects. The pilgrimage remains until Easter Sunday.
At 8 a.m., the Holy Church of Agios Dionysios will have the Service of the Great Hours and then, at 10.15 a.m., the Service of Vespers.
At 2 p.m., According Zakynthian customs the official Procession of the Crucified will take place with pomp and splendor around the Zakynthos town. The Procession will depart from the Holy Church of Agios Nikolaos of Molos (Solomos Square). On return, our ArchBishop will bless the four corners of the world.
At 7:30 p.m., in the Holy Church of Agios Dionysios, the Holy Saturday Mass (Epitaphic Lament) will be held.
At 7.30p.m the Epitaph will take place in the village of Ambelokipi, where the “lament’ of our Virgin Mother is sung. Most will visit this church and then after services have finished will make their way down to the town centre for religious events that take place around the church of Mitropolitan Church St. Nicholaos. Most Zakynthians will not sleep in wating for the epitaph that takes place in the early hours Saturday Morning.
On Great Saturday,
At 2 o’clock after midnight, the Mass of the Epitaph of the Holy Saturday (Epitaphic Lament) will be held in the Holy Metropolitan Church of Agios Nikolaos.
At 04.15 the official Litanization of the Epitaph through the town will take place. Once the procession returns to the Temple, the Great Saturday Vespers, the first Resurrection (Gloria) and the Divine Liturgy of Great Saint Basil will follow. It is here that many things will be happening, the hour of Judas, where coins are usually thrown on the street, whilst people gather under the clock awaiting the first Ressurrection to break their clay pots. Inside the church lights will be turned off, thundering sounds will be heard as the priest announces “Christ has Risen”.
This will also happen during the morning service at Saint Dionysios church which takes place around 09.00a.m
At 11 p.m., The Easter service will be held in the Holy Metropolitan Church of Agios Nikolaos.
At 11:45p,m the Holy Procession will start from the Holy Church for the Mass of Resurrection in St. Mark’s Square. It is here you will recieve the “Holy Light”. Afterwards, the Resurrection High Priestly Divine Liturgy will be held in the aforementioned Church, which will end at 01.30 in the morning.
On Easter Sunday,
At 8 am, the High Priestly Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Holy Church of Agios Dionysios. Then from 10 am until 12 p.m. the Most Reverend Metropolitan, after blessing the Easter eggs, will receive the wishes of the People and the Authorities in the Archonatriki of the Monastery.
At 7:30 p.m., Services will be held in the Holy Church of St. Lazaros Zakynthos, Easter Vespers and then there will be a Procession of the Holy Icons of the Resurrection and of the Most Holy Theotokos of Galanousa, in true Zakynthian style.
On Easter Monday, at 8 p.m. the Litanization of the Holy Icons of the Resurrection and the Most Holy Theotokos of Laurentina will take place from the Holy Church of Agios Nikolaos Psiloma to the Holy Church of Agia Triada in Zakynthos town.
