Sunday memorial

Sunday morning, as I was making my way to the bakery to purchase items for second breakfast, we encountered a few ladies clad all in black slowly making their way up the hill towards the church. We decided to follow them with the hope of glimpsing part of the Greek Orthodox mass. I didn't want to get roped into the whole mass which could potentially go on for hours, and soon I was going to get hungry.



As we neared the church we could hear very loud singing, almost like chanting. When we reached the church we noticed that there were loudspeakers attached to the building that were broadcasting the service. Several people were gathered at the front entrance of the church taking part in the mass. We decided to go inside, and were met with this opulent sight. As you can see, people are crammed in there and it is standing room only. Boy was it hot in there with all of those candles going.



The service was actually a memorial service for a woman who had died 40 days earlier. It is customary to have this service 40 days after the person's funeral, as a memorial. You can see a bouquet of flowers on the left side of the photo. On the table next to the flowers was a photo of the person being remembered, as well as a cake made from bulgar wheat, pomegranate and raisins. The cake was decorated with some silver metallic beads, which I'm told are edible. I tried to find out why they used pomegranate and raisins specifically, but nobody actually knew. They just learned it from their parents and grandparents, and kept up the tradition.



At the end of the service people lined up to kiss the hand of the priest and accept a piece of bread from him. I'm told that it is like taking communion in the Catholic Church, but it is not a wafer, it is an actual piece of bread. This is not a really solemn part of the ritual, people are chatting with one another in line. Many make there way up to particular icons near the altar to show reverence after receiving the bread. Only men are allowed up the step to approach the altar, women must stay in front of the partition with the icons.



A kind Greek woman who spoke English explained to me what was happening so that I could better understand what I was seeing.



I finally made it home for more coffee and breakfast.



More later.