Easter: Epitaphs through the sea in coastal areas of the Peloponnese
In a climate of deep religious devotion and excitement, but in a different way, reminiscent of a more island area, on Good Friday the tour of the funeral in coastal areas of the Peloponnese.
In Loutraki, Corinth, in the Tolo of Argolida, in Kitrids and in Agios Andrea of Messinia, the Epitaphs also takes place in the sea. There, the fishermen with their boats welcome the Epitaphs in the light of candles, sparklers and tobacco, while in the Tyros of Arcadia the sea is filled with lanterns as the Epitaphs crosses the coastal road.
In Loutraki Corinth
In Loutraki, after first the Epitaph of the Church of Our Lady of Yatrissa passes through the neighborhoods of the city, reaches the coastal road, where there is a tour along the beach. The Epitaph is then transported to the beach and follows its entrance to the sea.
At that moment, a boat welcomes the Epitaph in the water and at the same time fishermen light sparklers and torches by illumination, while many other boats accompany it until it returns to the beach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPPKNC6VKJK
In Tolo Argolida
At the coastal Tolo of Argolida on Good Friday night, residents and visitors follow the Epitaph, which ends at the beach. The Epitaph is then transported to the sea by young people in the village and the fishermen welcome him through their boats with sparklers and tobacco, while the myrrh chants the praises of the epitaph of lament.
The custom of the Epitaph of the Epitaph at sea has its roots in the years where Cretans arrived at Tolo to live permanently, while conveying one of their customs. So with the end of the Epitaph in the water, the inhabitants want to honor the sea because it offers them food and at the same time bless it.
See related video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N9F-jaxqvo
In Kithi Messinia
The Epitaph of the Epitaph in Kithi is special, because the sequence of the Epiphany lament begins late on Good Friday night. Shortly before midnight, the tour with the faithful begins from the old cobbled path to the port of the village. The fishermen then place the epitaph in their boats, with the accompaniment of the rest of the boats, which are docked, they circle the bay of the yellow. They then return to the port to continue the Epitaph’s tour into the village.
The custom has its roots in the fishermen of the area who wanted to « worship » the Epitaph the sea waters of the area.
Photo source: eleftheriaonline.gr
To Agios Andreas Messinia
In addition to the Kitrians, a tour of the Epitaph in the sea also takes place in Saint Andrew of Messinia. On Good Friday night, the tour starts from the village church and arrives at the port.
There the fishermen are waiting for him, where he is accompanied by a fishing cycle and then returns to the beach.
In the Tyro of Arcadia
In the coastal cheese of Arcadia, the Epitaphs of the Holy Temples of Agia Marina and the Transfiguration of the Savior meet on the coastal road, where a common tendency is chanted.
Their two Epitaphs are accompanied by the sea fishing and boats of visitors involved in the tour, while the sea is filled with hundreds of improvised lanterns in a chilling atmosphere.
Also, on the night of Holy Saturday, the beach of Tyros is filled from side to side with thousands of lanterns that illuminate the sea and symbolizing the souls of the lost sailors and fishermen.
Source: RES-EIA
