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Happy Easter. I'm in Hydra and have been watching my first Orthodox Greek Easter since 1981. That was in Rhodes and the excitement of someone setting alight the pony tail of the girl in front of me, has dimmed my memory of the service. Tonight most of the islanders and visitors on Hydra gathered at the small harbour of Kamini to wait for the arrival of the Epitaph ( an icon carried on a bier to represent the body of Christ) . I wasn't expecting to understand any of the service but "Kyrie Eleison" was repeated constantly and as this is familiar to anyone who worships in the Anglican church, I felt quite at home. After the prayers, The Epitaph was walked into the sea, (at nine thirty, on a chilly, blustery evening this really is an act of devotion), blessed and then carried back through the streets followed by the crowd.
Tomorrow I'm looking forward to candles and fireworks.
