15 April 2012

Easter Saturday midnight blessing

Midnight Easter Saturday blessing

Easter in Greece is one of the most beautiful times to visit.  At midnight on Easter Saturday, the traditional Easter blessing is given by the parish priest.  After the blessing, the bells chime and fireworks are set off.  The tradition then is for families to gather together and celebrate with the traditional Easter food.  Christos Anesti to all and Kalo Paskha.  
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ermioni-info/sets/72157629489399282/

14 April 2012

Good Friday evening procession

Good Friday evening procession
After the church service on Good Friday, the procession of the 'Epitaphios of Christ' takes place.  Both churches in the old village of Ermioni are packed and the bells chime loudly to announce the start of the procession.  Each church carries its own Epitaphios and all the followers carry lit candles.  Once the procession reaches the monument, at the Limania harbour front, a few prayers are said.  The procession then returns back to the main churches, where each follower goes under the Epitaphios, to enter back into their church for the Easter blessings.  Greek Easter is one of the best occasions in Greece.  Do consider a visit to Ermioni and participate in Greek Easter celebrations.  You will be moved and it will be an experience you will never forget.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ermioni-info/sets/72157629101029756/
http://www.ermioni.info/festivals-in-ermioni
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ermioni-info/sets/
http://www.ermioni.info/

13 April 2012

Morning Good Friday mass

Re-enactment of Christ's burial
Early morning Good Friday mass goes on for a few hours.  The church was full with many Athenians visiting.  Greek Easter in Greece is such a wonderful time to visit.  It is nice that in Ermioni, the traditions of Easter are still maintained.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ermioni-info/sets/72157629101029756/
http://www.ermioni.info/festivals-in-ermioni
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ermioni-info/sets/ 
http://www.ermioni.info/

01 April 2012

History of the pine cladded Bisti peninsula

At the Limania entrance to the Bisti, there are ancient remnants of the temple of Poseidon next to the small church of Agios Nikolaos.  Further east, on the central flat hill of the Poseidon on the Bisti, one can see the stone foundations of the 5th Century BC temple of Athena, goddess of wisdom.  Below the renovated white windmill (milos), facing the islands of Dokos and Hydra, is the ancient nobleman's tomb.  Sadly, there is no trace left of the ancient theatre.  It has been suggested that during the Ottoman occupation, the whole theatre, the two temples and most sections of the Frankish walls which surrounded the Bisti, were dismantled and transported over to the island of Hydra for construction.


Ancient Ermioni, with the fortified Poseideon citadel, which was built on the Bisti, used to be surrounded by 'Cyclopean' walls, whereby the foundations are still visible today on the northern side of the Bisti, in addition to many places around the present town.  In the same area of the Bisti lie the remnants of the workshops, where the deep red and purple coloured porphyra was produced for dyeing the cloaks of soldiers, nobles and kings, one being Alexander the Great.  By the windmill, there is an ancient noble's tomb, with the contents displayed in the new archaeological museum, in Nafplio.  It is also likely that the warships of Hermione that were sent to support the ancient Greek wars against Troy, and the Persian fleet at Salamis, set sail on their historic journey's from the Poseideon Bisti peninsula.  From this eastern point, there are superb panoramic views across the bay of Kapari, overlooking the island of Dokos and Hydra.
http://www.ermioni.info/ermioni-bisti
http://www.ermioni.info/place-of-interest/ermioni
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ermioni-info/sets/
http://www.ermioni.info/