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A Candle For Easter


A Candle For Easter
Photo Information
Copyright: Stella Marinazzo (meltemi) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1066 W: 202 N: 2207] (7972)
Genre: People
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 1999-03-28
Categories: Festivals, Event
Camera: Nikon FE, 50mm f1.8 AI (for Nikon FE)
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): * Greece * [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-23 8:55
Viewed: 450
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The celebration of Easter in Kerkyra is a unique experience, completely different from anywhere else in Greece and particularly impressive for first-time visitors to the island. It is a huge festival, in which various components come together harmoniously, the Orthodox Christian faith, pagan traditions, the powerful presence of Saint Spiridon, the Roman Catholic community, the Venetian influence, genuine Corfiot humour, the music of the philharmonic bands and of course the spring atmosphere.

On Holy Saturday evening, before the Orthodox ceremony takes place, you may attend the Catholic service at the Duomo Cathedral. With the participation of all Church officials, the Resurrection service finishes here at 11 p.m., to permit the clergy time to prepare themselves for the Orthodox service.

In Kerkyra Town, the service is held in the Upper Esplanade Square, starting at the Church of Agia Paraskevi, with the participation of the Bishop, the philharmonic orchestras, and thousands of people.Traditionally, the Old Philharmonic Orchestra (in red uniform) performs Albinoni’s Adagio, the Mantzaros Orchestra (in blue) – Mantzaros composed the music of the Greek national anthem, “Hymn to Freedom” – Verdi’s 'Marcia Funebre' and the Kapodistrias Orchestra the 'Elegia Funebre', Mariani's 'Sventura', and Chopin's 'Funeral March'. The atmosphere is particularly reverent.

This is a unique spectacle. All the windows of the surrounding houses are open, with candles burning in them. Added to these is the memorable sight of the thousands of candles held in the hands of the faithful who are attending the service in the largest square in Greece - a magnificent picture.

At midnight the priests announce: “Christós Anésti...Christ is Risen!”, cannons roar from the fortress, fireworks fill the air, church bells in town start ringing and the whole square is one big bright light, not only are hundreds of electric lights switched on but everyone lights candles and all the houses on Espianada are decorated with yet more candles lit at the Bishop's proclaim, and the each person in the crowd answers with the joyous responses of “Alithós Anésti …Truly He is risen” and “Alithinós O Kírios True is The Lord”.

The Resurrection is seen in with a roll of drums and an impressive firework display, and when this ends the bands traverse the streets of the town at a great pace playing cheerful music, with people running behind them singing

People leave the churches and crowded squares and make their ways to homes of friends and relatives. The candles they carry are placed in each home and burn through the night to symbolize the Light returned to the world. Celebrations continue with the cracking of eggs and The Resurrection Table.

The most important moments of our lives are defined by the intensity of the memory that they have left inside us. The most beautiful things are the ones that our senses refuse to forget. The nostalgia and the longing to return to all that has mesmerized us create the need to dream.

Kerkyra Easter is one of such dream.

* scanned slide *

Happy Easter to all my Greek Friends!
azaf1, portmanndominic, evanrizo, gracious, greek, ARGI, kdialyna, danos, papagolf21, Cretense, labro33, COSTANTINO, mursaloglu has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Stella
Excellent capture!
Happy Easter & Xristos Anesti
TFS
Argiris

Bonsoir Stella

A good Greek Easter picture , the BW shot is very useful for this out of time moment
TFS
my best regards
Ciao , Dominic

!-:) Ciao Stella, yes we have Easter on this week and you send a nice typical scene, especial with the candles!
Best wishes.
Vangelis

sorry for a month I can only comment.

Ciao Stella,
many thanks for the useful informative notes that comes with the image regarding the celebration!
I find the image in B/W version very suitable for the image!
great shot
ciao
Tony

  •      
  • greek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 636 W: 0 N: 446] (3820)
  • [2008-04-23 12:11]

thanx stella, nice foto and theme, thank you so much you honnor our country,beautiful moment,all the best ! galantis

Beautiful b/w photo dear Stella
Very nice capture
Happy Easter
Nick
e.g. Sorry no points until 20/5

Hello Stella,

You note is an education in itself, and, with a first class photograph, provides perspective to the occasion of Easter in Kerkyra. I rather like the juxtaposition of separate religions and traditions.

Warm regards,

Bulent

  • Great 
  • ARGI Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 659 W: 4 N: 342] (2908)
  • [2008-04-24 0:23]

Thank you for the note and the beautiful b&w shot Meltemaki.
I hope any problem you had that is solved by know, as I was thinking about you and missed your pictures and your words.
I wish you all the best
O filos sou
Argyris

Thank you Stella for your wishes.
I am not a big fun of this kind of celebrations but the truth is that Easter is a very important happening for Greeks.
This feast is also a well come of Spring, so everybody is twice happy.
Best Regards
Kostas

  • Great 
  • danos Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3124 W: 83 N: 4549] (16977)
  • [2008-04-25 2:34]

Ciao Stella,
nice snapshot of the celebration of Easter in Kerkyra,or all over Greece.You can see the same scenes in the smallest village.I like the B/W format as the sharpen tones and the light that is well managed.Very informative and useful your note about Ester in Kerkyra.

Kalo Pasxa,Danos

Ciao Stella, buona pasqua anche da parte mia a tutti gli amici dell'oriente, pensiero gentile da parte tua ricordare questa ricorrenza, bel bianco e nero, molto intimo e spirituale, brava, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Nicou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2029 W: 0 N: 4719] (22954)
  • [2008-04-26 2:44]

Hello Stella,

Très belle image NB, , image qui donne une impression rétro, du passé, très viviante avec de douces teinete et très vivante.

Bravo et amitiés

Nicou

Chère amie Stella,
Votre note est une véritable invitation à découvrir ce moment unique ! je m'imagine assez bien au coeur de cette fête particulière, ouvrir grand les yeux pour admirer, ouvrir grand les oreilles pour écouter les différentes mélodies.
S'immerger au coeur de l'action. Voilà ce que je ressens à travers cette prise de vue et de la note d'accompagnement.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Hi Stella,
A beautiful B/W surprise dedicated to Greeks...
Thanks for sharing,take care,
George

Ciao Stella ,
Grazie per gli auguri della nostra Pasqua,
sei molto gentile,
e pure la tua foto e molto bella in B/N da Corfu,con una nota molto interesante,
cari saluti,
Costantino

Geia sou Stella!

Thank you for "advertising" our traditions and our country in general. Beautiful picture, straight into the spirit of these (Greek) days, nice light managment, framing and composition, excellent choice of b&w! Congratulations!

Ciao, Hercules

Carissima Stella
Hai colto un immagine BN in un modo molto eccellente e documentarista Con le candele e l'uomo accanto si vede quell 'aria mistica che si espande a tutto l'immagine. Un lovoro molto ammirevole e fantastico. Complimenti cara ihsan

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