Greek Odyssey
By Steve Sharp
I can barely remember my early visits to Greek Islands, lost as they were to late nights, Raki, Ouzo and Retsina.
I have worked closely with art director Terry for over 30 years, and he is responsible for much of the graphic content of the Chancery Lane website and advertising. Years ago, he bought a holiday home up in the mountains of Crete, which he and his wife and three children enjoyed each Easter and Summer.
Twenty years on and spending a couple of weeks doing some DIY maintenance in 2020, lockdown struck, and he was marooned. We carried on working together using WhatsApp, We Transfer and Dropbox with daily face to face sessions on Zoom.
We got used to this and appreciated the great use of time that it brought, and Terry got used to actually living in Crete full time. Come the end of lockdown, he decided to stay, and his wife came out to join him.
We met last year for just one day in Kos. But recently decided we should get together for a week to work, walk, eat and drink.
By chance we arrived for Greek Orthodox Easter which is celebrated much more wholeheartedly than Christmas. Arriving in the small holy village on Saturday we were welcomed to attend Midnight Mass despite being neither Catholic or Orthodox!
This was a Mass like no other, and celebrates the resurrection with joyful exuberance, bonfires and fireworks.
The beautiful little church was packed to capacity and just before midnight the Papa led the congregation outside all holding lighted candles.
He continued his incanting until at Midnight he was given a sharp nudge by a young lad appointed timekeeper.
The Church bells rang furiously, fireworks and bangers went off and the ritual burning of an effigy of Judas was ignited in the style of Guy Fawkes night.
People hugged and kissed in joyous celebration and after an hour or so the congregation dispersed taking their lighted candles with them.
The next day is like Christmas Day with families getting together with the smell of lamb and goat cooking on open fires in the mountain air, the locals desperate for meat after the abstinence of Lent.
As we walked through the village we were invited in for a drink and specialities by locals, and later at our friends’ house they replicated the traditional Greek celebratory feast.
There was a danger of getting ‘forgetful’ with the free flowing Raki, Ouzo and wine…. But we are all grown up now.
Steve