Agia Marina

Priests were scurrying up to this church (Panagia Portaitissa) early this morning, and shortly thereafter the bells started to ring. I asked why, and was told that July 17 is the name day for Agia Marina, and that a special mass was to be held. The name Marina means "one who comes from the sea". Anyone named Marina celebrates their name day today, kind of like a birthday for everyone named Marina.



Poor Marina did not live a very long life, she was tortured and killed before she reached the age of twenty. She made two serious errors. First she refused to marry the man chosen to be her husband, and secondly she refused to return to paganism. The church celebrates her life and devotion to the faith.



We did not celebrate Marina today, but two members of our project did have birthdays today. It turned into a celebration for people with birthdays in July. A special cake was ordered that said "Happy Birthday" in Greek. Six candles were lit on top of the cake, one for each person with a birthday. Each one had to blow out a candle on the cake. Yummy chocolate cake from a local bakery.



More soon.