Photo: Georgios Makkas

Easter is the most sacred and important celebration of the year in Greece. Religious or not, you’ll be stirred by the sentiment and traditions that define Greek Orthodox holy week in Athens.

Easter ABCs

the congregation at the inside of a fully decorated church
Agia Irini church Athens
Traditional Greek Easter biscuits - Koulourakia

Good Friday in Athens

Follow a candlelit procession through the streets

Flower power: the Holy Bier is a beautiful highlight of Good Friday in Greece.

Photo: Thomas Gravanis

Easter Saturday

See the Holy Fire arrive from Jerusalem

Sharing the flame of the Resurrection.

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Every Greek child stays up late to light a candle at Midnight Mass on Easter Saturday.

Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis

The spectacle of Midnight Mass

A sea of candles flickers at Midnight Mass as church bells across Athens announce that Christ has risen.

Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis

Christ has risen (and so have the fireworks above the Acropolis.)

Photo: Thomas Gravanis

A midnight Easter feast

Easter Sunday

Greek Easter delicacy: oven-baked kokoretsi (lamb or goat intestines wrapped around seasoned offal).

Photo: Eleni Veziri

Traditional Greek Easter foods