The Representation of the Earthquake
You have to wake up early to catch the customs of this day! At 06.00 in the morning, the custom of 'the earthquake' is carried out at the Church of the Blessed Virgin of Strangers (Panagia ton Xenon). This is a re-enactment of the earthquake that followed Christ’s Resurrection, as described in the Bible.
The entire church, usually full of believers, shakes in a solemn atmosphere.
Holy Saturday
April 19th, 2025
Epitaph and Litany of Saint Spyridon
At 9 a.m., the procession the island Patron Saint begins from Saint Spiridon Church. This procession is the oldest, dating back to 1550 and has been consecrated in memory of His Miracle performed to save the island from starvation. The Saint shares the stage with the Epitaph of his own church, a custom established during Venetian times, when the Venetian Senate prohibited the Greek Orthodox procession of the 'Epitaphios' taking place on Good Friday. That's why, the procession was moved from Good Friday to Easter Saturday, exclusively for the church of St. Spyridon. People throw flowers from their windows and the accompanying orchestras play Michelli's 'Calde Lacrime', Faccio's "Hamlet' and Beethoven's Funeral March.
After the procession the Saint's body is exposed for three days for general worship. According to the legend the inhabitants were suffering from famine. Unexpectedly on Easter Saturday, ships loaded with flour sailed into Corfu harbor. They were sailing past the island and had been diverted by St. Spyridon, who appeared in one of the captain's dreams and told him to change their course and sail at once to Corfu because the population was starving.
The First Resurrection
At 11 am, the first Resurrection is announced. Be prepared to experience a truly unique celebration: “Christós Anésti” (the Christ has risen) is proclaimed against a background of loudly pealing bells and the joyful sounds of the bands as they parade through the streets.
You can watch the most popular custom of the local Easter, the “botides” (small or huge clay pots filled with water). This custom is probably of pagan origin. By smashing things and making loud noises, the Ancient Greeks wanted to wake up Persephone, the goddess of spring, and accelerate the coming of Spring. This custom was preserved after the introduction of the Christian faith, and there is referral to it in a psalm of Good Friday… and it symbolizes the defeat of death and the prevailing of life and joy. This noisy custom originated in Corfu town but has extended to all villages and it is a highlight of the Corfu Easter, something quite unique to the Island.
Make sure that by 10.50 a.m. you are not standing under any windows or balconies decorated with bright red cloth. It means people will throw botides from them. Try to be at "Pentofanaro" or " the Liston" or "Kofineta" to watch the whole custom in all its glory. As soon as the bells announce the "morning Resurrection", Corfiots throw ceramic pots off windows and balconies. People then collect the broken pieces of pottery as it is believed to bring good luck.
After the throwing of the pots, the philharmonic bands parade around the streets playing joyful marches.
The custom of Mastella
At 11:01 am at the "Pinia" corner in the old commercial centre of town, another custom called "Mastela" is relived. Mastella. It is a large open barrel filled with water and decorated with palm branches, myrtle and ribbons. The barrel is placed at this spot earlier and during the Holy week, the passing-by throw in coins, making wishes. Right after the first Resurrection bell are heard, which is at 11:00am, someone will dive into the barrel to collect the money. Once upon a time, the diver was not a volunteer but an ignorant onlooker who was thrown into the barrelagainst his will. He then took the money as a compensation for his ducking.
The Holy Light
The Eternal Flame is brought to Greece from Jerusalem by military jet, and is distributed to waiting priests who carry it to their local churches. The reception ceremony takes place at 10 pm at “Pentofanaro” on Liston with all three philharmonic bands participating. The Holy light is then carried to the Catholic Cathedral (Duomo) where the Easter Vigil is held since 8 pm. with the participation of all Church officials. The Catholic Archbishop receives the Light and continues the Resurrection service. The mass finishes at 11 p.m. giving time to the faithful to attend the Orthodox celebration as well.
The Resurrection
On Holy Saturday evening, people gather by thousands at the central squares of Corfu town and villages, to celebrate Resurrection with glory and typical customs. Each village has its ceremonies, beginning in church and ending outdoors, depending on the weather, and all wonderful to witness. You will find yourself surrounded by thousands of lit candles: on balconies, on windowsills or held by the faithful attending the ceremony. The lighting of candles ceremony is the most significant moment of the year. People take home their candles lighted with the holy light of the Resurrection, making a cross with the smoke of the candle on top of the doorframe before entering their houses. Then they light the oil candle before their icon-stand, and try to keep this light burning throughout the year.
All over Greece, the ceremony takes place on a platform outside of the church. In some villages it is the custom to close the church doors, and with the cry of "Christ is Risen' (Christos Anesti) the priest, having made three circuits of the church while chanting, kicks open the central door and enters, singing the psalm 'Enter, enter by the Grace of God'.
The procession of Resurrection in Corfu Town begins from the Church of Agia Paraskevi at 23:40 with the participation of the Bishop and the clergy, the authorities, the philharmonic orchestras and thousands of devout. The official Resurrection ceremony will take place in the upper part of the Esplanade Square (Pano Plateia).
There is a short service - a passage from the Gospel and some prayers - and then as the clock on the nearby fortress begins to strike twelve, the Bishop intones the words "Christos Anesti" for which everyone through the weary weeks of Lent and the harsh fasting of Holy week has been waiting. At these words, the band bursts into an Easter hymn, cannons roar from the fortress, fireworks scream into the air, bells in the town start ringing and the place is at once a blaze of light. The spectacle is beyond any expectation. The fireworks display turns night into day, the lighting of thousands of candles in the hands of every man, woman and child, candles lining the buildings and balconies all around the square, the purple cross on the fortress becomes white and the bands begin to play joyful marches. Everyone wishes that this magical moment would never end.
People say the phrase “Christós Anésti” (Christ has risen) to one another. The response is “Alithós Anésti” (He has risen indeed). Then they slowly turn to go back home, usually to eat Mayiritsa, a soup made of the sheep's intestine, eaten traditionally after midnight, to break the Fast. Mayiritsa is accompanied with red eggs, fogatsa (brioche), columbines (a special bread of Venetian origin, baked in the form of a dove) and of course lots of wine.
