Fasting in Orthodox Church

By Vicky Zevgolatakou


Fasting is a means and a spiritual weapon which is not just limited to diet, but the person must be involved in body and mind. It is every Christian's duty to fast during fasting periods.

During these days, Christians are required to abstain from eating:

• · Meat
• · Eggs
• · Animal products
• · Milk and dairy products
• · Fish - except mollusks and shell fish, as well as fish eggs: taramas, roe and caviar
• · Olive oil - excluding olives, which although are oil products, they are consumed during fasting periods.

The main fasting periods are:

1. The fast of Lent, which begins on Ash Monday and ends on Holy Saturday: It means "Great 40 Days" and is the most important period of fasting in the calendar of Orthodox Christians. It finishes on the day of Easter and prepares the faithful for the Divine Drama.

2. The fast of Wednesday and Friday of each week, because on Wednesday the trial of Christ began and on Friday he was crucified.

3. The fast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or the 15th of August, which begins on the 1st of August and ends on the 15th of the same month.

4. The fast before Christmas, which lasts 40 days and begins on November 15 and ends on December 25.

Greek Customs, II

Greek Baptism 

By Vicky Zevgolatakou


The sacrament of baptism is very unique for a child and is associated with many customs and traditions of our country.

As for the customs related to the duties of the godfather, although in the past there were many more, several of them continue to be observed today. The godfather supplies white clothes for the baby, while also three days before the baptism he brings oil to the priest, who will perform the sacrament to bless it. The godfather is the one who has to buy everything necessary for the baptism and of course, the cross. During the sacrament, he holds the baby in his arms as the priest reads the wishes. He must also tell the priest the child's name.

The godfather is not allowed to baptize children of different sexes.The baptism takes place at least 40 days after the baby's birth.By spreading the Holy Myrrh to the baby we thank God for all the gifts He has given it, while by lighting a big candle we glorify Him. The priest is the first to cut the child's hair since its birth. Also, the water of the baptismal font must be thrown either into the sea or into the soil. The mother should not rinse the Holy Myrrh from the baby for three days, as it protects it from negative energy. The baby's baptism clothes should be white and they symbolize the Holy Spirit it received, as well as purity.

Greek Customs, I

Greek Marriage 

By Vicky Zevgolatakou


Many of the wedding customs come from the past, but continue to exist to this day.

The dowry: Dowry was an institution in which the family gave the bride her property when she got married. The institution of dowry has existed since ancient times and was the contribution of women to the common life of the couple. The reasons it existed were firstly economic and then social. Every woman's parents tried, from her young years until someone asked her to marry him, to collect as much dowry as they could. Usually, the dowry consisted of clothes, but the wealthiest gave jewellery, land, animals and dwellings.
This custom has now been abolished.

The "wedding bed": On Thursday before the wedding, the "wedding bed" is laid. Unmarried girls or girlfriends of the bride undertake the laying of the bed using white sheets. Then, the bed is decorated with sugared almonds and rice. A young boy will roll over on the bed, which was believed to make the first night of the wedding fertile. 



The rice: The guests throw rice at the couple as they leave church. The rice together with rose petals symbolizes the couple's solid foundation, good luck and a happy and prosperous life.