The main reason we wanted to visit Thessalonica in Greece was to take part in the Orthodox Easter services and celebrations. We planned our arrival to the city so that we would be able to attend the Orthodox Good Friday evening service. After checking into our hotel, Downtown Suites, we went out to join an Easter service at 9 p.m. at the downtown square.
It was a little after 8 p.m. when we took the Metro (from the Dimocratia station) nearest to our hotel to downtown. It cost only 0.6 Euro per person per subway ride, incredibly cheap!
We were not sure where to go and asked a random person on the street. He pointed us to the direction and told us to just follow the crowd. We did and there were many people heading towards somewhere. We had no idea where we were going, but just followed the crowd.
Then we saw a procession taking place with some people carrying a big wooden cross leading the way followed by a few people carrying a floral covered dome with a rectangular box underneath it. ( Later, someone explained to me that what laid on top of the wooden box was supposed to be Jesus’ body.) Everybody started following the procession.
Though there were large numbers of people converging towards the same direction, everyone was civil. No one was talking loud, nor was anyone pushing anyone nor stepping on green grass strips along the way. A happy yet polite and orderly crowd. We felt safe and calm without the fear of any violent events taking place. We saw a band of musicians playing and some priests leading the way. Eventually the procession ended up at a platform built for the Good Friday Epithethos celebration by the waterfront of the city.
The floral floats and the wooden cross were hoisted to this platform together with the priests in colorful robes. Orthodox priests were wearing either black or white robes signifying different ranks. Many of them had full beards.
According to tradition, the priests would chant in ancient Greek, not sure if they did, which might or might not be fully understood by the crowd. We stood there, along with the great multitude of local people and visitors, soaking up the atmosphere and listening to the music and chanting.
Though unable to understand a word said by the priests, I was moved by the service tremendously. I was so grateful for the opportunity attending this somber service in person that a sunami wave of emotion feelings washed over me and tears started streaming down my face.
"God almighty! Thank you for loving us so much that you sent your only son, Jesus, to die for us so that we will have the hope of eternal lives in heaven and be with you and our loved ones who also believed in you. I am so grateful to be able to travel at our age and be present for this wonderful service in Thessaloniki. God, thank you and thank you for your love and mercy!" My simple prayer to thank God at our first service in Thessaloniki, Greece.
RT, Thessaloniki, Greece
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