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Welcoming Ceremony at Athens Airport The Holy Light in Greece

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  • Welcoming Ceremony at Athens Airport The Holy Light in Greece

    The Hellenic Radio (ERA), Greece
    May 1 2005

    Welcoming Ceremony at Athens Airport The Holy Light in Greece
    30 Apr 2005 19:48:00
    By Annita Paschalinou

    Orthodox Greeks are celebrating the biggest celebration of
    Christianity, the Resurrection of Christ and Holy Easter. The Holy
    Light arrived in Athens at 8pm on Easter Saturday from Jerusalem to
    bring the jubilant message of the Holy Resurrection of Christ to all
    the Greeks. A welcoming ceremony took place at Eleftherios Venizelos
    Airport in Athens in a very emotional climate. It was then
    transferred to the Holy Sepulchre in Plaka. Earlier, the Lighting
    Ceremony in Jerusalem was marred by violent incidents. Armenians and
    Orthodox Arabs had gathered outside the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
    and started launching threats against Patriarch Eirinaios.

    Problems with Lighting Ceremony

    A little before Patriarch Eirinaios entered the crypt of the Holy
    Sepulchre to receive the Holy Light, a group of Armenian clerics and
    pilgrims attacked him.

    Clashes followed between them and the Patriarchs security men, while
    the police had to intervene and pull away the Armenians.

    A little after 2pm, the Patriarch entered the crypt and emerged 15
    minutes later with the Holy Light.

    His security men carried him on their shoulders from the Holy
    Sepulchre to the Temple of Resurrection.

    Inside the Temple, Mr Eirinaios handed the Holy Light over to the
    Greek delegation, so it could be carried back to Athens.

    A few minutes later, and while referring to the Armenians attacks, he
    stressed that as was the case with previous years, once again the
    Armenians tried to claim the Holy Light from the Sepulchre.

    He added, however, that this cannot be allowed.

    "We will shed our blood if we have to, to keep the Holy Land," he
    emphasised.

    When asked to comment on the incidents that took place on Good
    Friday, he said that they were prompted by a small group of Arabs.

    More than 3,000 pilgrims travelled to Jerusalem from Greece, Cyprus
    and Russia, to celebrate Easter, while the Greek government was
    represented by Deputy Transport Minister Anastasios Nerantzis.

    The Holy Light arrived in Eleftherios Venizelos Airport with an
    Olympic Airways flight, while a grand welcoming ceremony followed.

    It was then transferred to the Holy Sepulchre in Plaka.

    The First Resurrections

    In Athens, the First Resurrection took place at 9am in the St
    Constantine Temple.

    In keeping with tradition, the members of the congregation reenacted
    the Resurrection earthquake with firecrackers, while some rocked the
    chandeliers back and forth.

    Tradition also has it that a First Resurrection is to take place on
    the island of Kerkyra. As soon as the bells started to toll, the
    locals started throwing terracotta urns from their windows.

    Another morning Resurrection ceremony took place on the island of
    Chios, as per a Byzantine ritual.

    Christ won the battle with death and the priest in the church of St
    Marina started throwing rose petals and palm tree leaves to the
    worshippers.

    Translated by Vicky Ghionis
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