The Churches of Athens

For every Christian, Good Friday is the most solemn day of the year. In order to understand what the profound solemnity that characterises Greek Easter is all about, you can wait at Syntagma Square, where at 9.30 pm the various Epitaphios processions converge, each one decorated with fresh flowers. There you can see the decorated biers upon which the Epitaphios is carried from many central churches, such as the Aghia Irini Church (Saint Irene Church), the Aghia Aikaterini Church (Saint Catherine Church), the Ai Yiorgi Karytsi Church (Church of Saint George of Karytsi) and of course the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.

If, however, you want to experience a more solemn religious event, you may head towards Plaka, the most picturesque precinct of the City of Athens, where in Kydathenaion Street you can see the procession of the Epitaphios of the Church of the Metamorphosi tou Sotiros (Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour). Although you will have to go up a lot of stairs and then come down while making your way through a dense crowd in the narrow streets holding a Paschal candle, the whole ambiance of the procession is richly rewarding.