Crete. In several churches of the island adhered to the tradition that combines the joyful message of the Resurrection of Christ with the burning of Judas.
During the holy Week, the young people of each area collected in enormous piles of wood for the burning of Judas, completing the impressive sight with dozens of fireworks.
Church Of Agios Nikolaos To Souda Chania
For another year, in the Holy Temple of Agios Nikolaos to Souda, hundreds of faithful came out in the courtyard of the church with their lamps, to chant the Christ is Risen with its bells ringing joyfully, the horn of the ship in port to sets the tone and Judah to “torches” to hang down from the massively lit, colorful fireworks, sky.
The believers, however, attended to the Sacred Temple of Saint Nicholas of Souda and a special custom that is kept for many years. It is a ritual in which the priest, returning to the temple after the Resurrection, he finds closed the gates of the church.
There the priest knocks 3 times on the door saying the biblical dictum:
“ἊÏατε gates, the ἄÏχοντες be, and á¼Ï€Î¬Ïθητε, gates αἰώνιοι, and εἰσελεÏσεται the βασιλεὺς τῆς glory”
Let’s open the gates your princes, get up, you eternal gates to let the king of glory
To receive the response from the νεοκόÏο which is located behind the door and inside the church:
“The á¼ÏƒÏ„ιν οὗτος, βασιλεὺς τῆς glory to you?”
Who is this king of glory?
The cleric responds:
“Lord of hosts” estin, βασιλεὺς τῆς glory”
The Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory
Then the door opens and the cleric enters the temple. See the ritual:
The doors symbolize the gates of the underworld with the Resurrection of Jesus are removed.
Too many parishes, Crete, faithful to the custom, sent him to Judah… to the stake with the joyful message of the Resurrection of Christ.
Source
So they celebrated the Resurrection in Crete [video]
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