Person
Georgios Basioudis
Cultural Heritage
Easter Vigil
Description
For the many Greek workers who started out on their journey to Germany in the 1960s—for many the first ever in their lives, and who therefore, symbolically crossed the Jordan of their existence—faith represented home in a foreign land. They brought along an icon and an oil lamp in front of which they offered daily prayers. Now the community celebrates Easter, the most important celebration in the Greek orthodox calendar, in the “Feast of the Cross Church”, Mannheim. During the mass at the Easter Vigil, shortly before 11 pm, the Church is completely darkened. The priest comes out from the chancel with Easter candles and calls out singing: “Come and take light from the eternal light“. The faithful rush towards him and try to light up their Easter candles. The people who manage to do so pass on the flame.
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