THE GOOD WEEK
A POEM ON THE GOOD WEEK BY IOANNIS KAPODISTRIAS, THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF GREECE Μεγάλη Δευτέρα, ο Χριστός στη μαχαίρα. On Good Monday, the Christ receives the knife. Μεγάλη Τρίτη, ο Χριστός εκρίθη. On Good Tuesday, the Christ is judged. Μεγάλη Τετάρτη, ο Χριστός εχάθη. On Good Wednesday, the Christ is lost Μεγάλη Πέμπτη, ο Χριστός ευρέθη. On Good Thursday, the Christ is found. Μεγάλη Παρασκευή, ο Χριστός στο καρφί. On Good Friday, the Christ is hung on the cross. Μεγάλο Σαββάτο, ο Χριστός στον τάφο. On Good Saturday, the Christ is in the tomb. Μεγάλη Λαμπρή αυγό και αρνί At Easter, egg and lamb.
ON GOOD MONDAY
ON GOOD TUESDAY There is a special chant written by a woman who repented for her sins and wrote it to show her love for the Lord and she became a nun.
ON GOOD WEDNESDAY
Nowadays, the Archbishop in certain areas washes the priests’ feet on Wednesday afternoon.
ON GOOD THURSDAY
We put wreaths with flowers on the cross.
ON GOOD FRIDAY In the morning, the priest takes the Christ from the Cross and lays him on the epitaph.
The epitaph is decorated with flowers by women, old and young.
Everybody pays their respect to the dead Christ and children pass under the epitaph for good luck and health.
Then, all the congregation from different churches of a city, town or village follow the epitaphs and there is a large procession.
The epitaph of the cathedral is carried by soldiers.
ON GOOD SATURDAY. In the morning, there is the first resurrection and the priests throw leaves of laurel to the congregation.
On Good Saturday, at 11 o’clock at night, people go to church for the service of Christ’s resurrection.
The priest uses large candles and gives away the Holy Light to the people. The Light comes from Jerusalem.
It is a blessing to keep the light burning at home for forty days.
When the priests say “Christ is risen from the dead” fireworks are set and light up the sky.
THE END