Santorini Easter

Easter on the island of Santorini: Easter is an important celebration all over Greece. Particularly in Santorini, traditions are revived during that period, making Easter even more popular. Preparations for Easter include whitewashing the houses and yards, decorating the churches with flowers, and cooking various delicacies, like tsourekia (Greek sweet bread) and melitinia - the traditional Easter pastry of Santorini.

In Megalochori village, the locals organize a great feast at the central square on Lazarus Saturday. Locals set up a large cross, about 12m high, which is decorated with flowers.
Of great interest is the Holy Week in Oia, where various services are held at the picturesque church of Panagia Platsani.

In all villages of the island, there is a procession of the epitaph on Holy Friday. The epitaph is decorated with flowers and makes the rounds of the village. In Pyrgos, small cans with lights are set along the streets where the epitaph passes. In Fira, the two epitaphs meet in the central square. The beautifully preserved white streets are packed with locals holding lighted candles.

On Holy Sunday, people attend church at midnight to get the Holy Light. Many fireworks explode in the sky, spreading the message of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.