Church service in Pano Hora

 

Eggs on sale at a cafe Friday.

The next few days are going to be a bit topsy turvy as a lot of events are happening at night. Like tonight’s service in Pano Hora. Posts are probably going to have two days activities. Friday, after a lunch, my friend and MeV drove out to the track that leads to Malliadiko beach. The track leads down to the beach in a zig zag fashion. The beach is nice and there were goats on it. As we got closer they ran off, up the path we were going on. After crossing the beach we followed the goats up and eventually they ran off. We carried on towards the next beach, Kalogeros, which my friend told me means good old man. ( Kalo is good of course). It’s an odd beach which has a single palm tree at the back of it. We decided to try for the next beach, which I haven’t done, that’s Avloniyiko. We sort of found a path, my friend did not have proper walking boots and when the path became doubtful, we turned back. I would like to try it again one day, with a Walker, not on my own. On the way back, we scooped up two bags of rubbish, I found a second bag embedded in the sand thankfully, as I had only brought one with me. When we got back to Livadi we had an ice cream in a cafe, a well deserved treat.

Photo interlude - The church. I observed the service in

In the evening I went to the church on the Town Hall Square and inside. There were four men singing, one of them a builder I know from the Coffee Shop. Another was leading the singing, waving his hands like a conductor. I decided to stay. A lot of people just came in, kissed the icons, bought a candle, crossed their chests and left after a short while. The priest was not taking part at this stage. A couple of people went upstairs where there was a small balcony. Another guy I know came over and said hello and welcomed me. In the centre of the church was what looked like the ark of the covenant? It had a very informal feel, people chatting, walking about. This is not the main service perhaps. I decided to go upstairs, there were two ladies with minute books, which they were following the service from. Marinos came in, he saw me, I saw him say my name. Four small girls were dressed with silk robes, and little baskets put around their necks. 

Photo Interlude - The church in Kato Hora the procession went to

The priest then appeared. The singers were still carrying on. Eventually the priest started his part of the service, but the singers still continued around his words. Eventually  the girls walked around the ark with the priest throwing what looked like flowers into it. Again the whole thing was very informal, still people coming in, the church more crowded now, people coming up to the priest, speaking to him. We were all showered with what I think was holy water, the priest making sure even us on the balcony got showered ! At the end, after two hours, the priest spoke some words, a lot of them I understood, at the end he clearly made a joke, everybody laughed, someone spoke  a reply, more laughter. A wooden cross, now decorated with three candles, flags and gold coloured plates were  paraded out of the church,  plus the ark. At this stage, it was a scrum to get out of the church. We  walked down, I wonder how many sprained ankles resulted in tonight’s activities! I took the road, down to Kato Hora, I got to the church before the ark and observed it being carried down the steps to it. I decided as it was nearly ten to go back to the house. It was gridlock. It must be like this in the summer. I escaped  in the tranquility of the house, thinking about what I had seen. I feel very humbled at being able in my own way to take part. I was welcomed by everyone I knew and also others, fthey smiled at me, welcoming me without saying words.