tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714437334790446678.post3055531172891755512..comments2023-10-04T09:50:08.070-05:00Comments on Logismoi: Holy Saturday—Christ's Descent Into Hades, Part 2Aaron Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775589009145031773noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714437334790446678.post-80957879886565868512009-04-20T21:33:00.000-05:002009-04-20T21:33:00.000-05:00Thank you, Apostolos! Αληθώς Ανέστη!Thank you, Apostolos! Αληθώς Ανέστη!Aaron Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775589009145031773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714437334790446678.post-50413782220344966412009-04-20T13:34:00.000-05:002009-04-20T13:34:00.000-05:00Christ is Risen!
Aaron, I'm a Greek guy from Greec...Christ is Risen!<br />Aaron, I'm a Greek guy from Greece and I can tell you that this custom takes place in various parts in Greece, especially in Volos, Thessaly(the place my family comes from) and in the villages on mount Pelion, where I have seen it with my own eyes; I have heard this custom also takes place in the Ionian islands, in Euboea and in the Sporades Islands. <br />In short, it goes like this:<br />After the reading of the Gospel which tells of the empty tomb is read and the "Christ is Risen" is chanted, and before the congregation returns to the church building, the priest knocks the door which is closed and says three times:<br />"Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in!" (Psalm 23).<br />Then usually the neokoros (sexton) of the Church, asks behind the closed door:<br />"Who is this King of Glory?".<br />And the priest answers:<br />"The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory"! <br />And he pushes the door open.<br />Interestingly, in the island of Zakynthos, the poor neokoros after the door opens, must disappear, because it is a bad omen to be seen by the congregation (after all, he has played the role of the adversary, the poor guy).<br />I have also seen this custom during my visit in a monastery under the omophorion of the Patriarchate of Alexandria just outside Athens. With one huge difference: This "dialog", took place after the procession of the Epitaphios on Great and Holy Friday.<br />Greetings from Greece.<br />Χριστός Ανέστη!<br />Apostolos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com