Greek Easter Week Suggestions?
 

We are six persons, comprising of two families, all adults arrving in Athens on 2nd May, 2013 for a trip to Greece. We will be in Athens for the first few days upto 5th May which is Easter Sunday and leave for Santorini on 6th. Since this is the Greek Easter week, are there any activities or festivities we should be going for during the week? We love culture and would love to be a part of any ceremonies. Any suggestions?

Please have a look at the following link :

http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/religion/easter_in_greece

On Good Friday visit the Athens Metropolis before 21:00 hrs for the Epitaph, there will be thousands of people waiting outside the church.

On Saturday visit any of the small churches of the Plaka around 23:45 hrs to experience the Anastasis..

On Sunday Athens will be a dead city, since Athenians always celebrate this day away from the city in the country side.
On that day try to visit the Philopappou Hill, where the Municipality of Athens celebrates along with the citizens.

Have a look at the official website of the city of Athens :
http://www.breathtakingathens.com/

Thanks Clausar for the response. Is there any particular church you would recommend to attend for Easter Saturday for the Resurrection? Do you think it would be worth going to Philopappou Hill on Sunday? Thanks in advance for your response.

That is a beautiful part of Athens, and I love the walk up Apostolou Pavlou from Thissio metro station! I just discovered this YouTube video of Philopappou Hill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUDoyKdFKgY.

Depending on where you will stay visit any church that will be nearby.
Best would be to attend the Mass of Resurrection ( Anastasis in Greek) not in the centre like Syntagma and Monastiraki, as these areas have only very few inhabitants.

In the centre the celebration is normally very formal, especially at the Cathedral of Athens, where traditionally many ministers the President or the Prim Minister go....( and everything is pretty quite, without the spectacular fireworks.)

Here is a list of churches in central Athens, i would go to Agios Dimitrios Loubardiaris, which is a tiny church located 200 meters away from the Acropolis, on the street towards Thisseion.

http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtschurches.htm

Here are three you tube videos

1. The Epitaph ( there is a philharmonic orchestra only at very big churches, like the Athens Cathedral)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mwUIxNBmjM

2. Anastasis at a small church on the island of Zakynthos

Of course most people are waiting outside, and in most cases priests are holding the liturgy outside of the church.

3. Anastasis at the Pyrgos Cathedral ( City in West Peloponnese). This is very close to what you will experience...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e_ULuNciB0

Ignore Jayden's advice. Over Easter the islands will be packed with Athenians. I was in Greece over Easter in 2006, and the boats leaving Piraeus were crammed and Athens was very quiet.

An island packed with Greeks is a nice experience, since you will be celebrating Easter amongst locals...

Islands without people ( like some of the islands during winter) are very very boring...
Greeks have the habit to celebrate Easter in the countryside and that for a reason.
Easter falls in Spring, everything is green and blooming, Easter in Athens instead is pretty melancholic.. ( at least for Greeks)

What you experienced in 2006 doesn't repeat in 2013 unfortunately, since many people don't want to spend a fortune
to visit the islands anymore. ( Ferry tickets are very expensive after several increases in the last 2-3 years - this is why many Greeks prefer to stay on the mainland)

Thanks Clausar for your response.We will try and go the church you suggested.You mentioned a philharmonic at big churches- is there likely to be a performance at any of the churches during the Easter week? Thursdaysd, in any case we do not have a choice of going to the islands during Easter. Our trip is already planned- Athens, Santorini, Naxos, Mykonos, back to mainland for a two day trip to Meteora and then we fly out.Another couple is joining us in Athens on Easter Friday before we leave for the islands together.

Do churches hold any philharmonic or choir singing during Easter week. Can somebody guide me on this? We are in Athens from 2nd May to 5th May.