Orthodox Good Friday around the world in 2024

Orthodox Good Friday around the world in 2024
  How long until Orthodox Good Friday?
Orthodox Good Friday
  Dates of Orthodox Good Friday around the world
2025 Various Apr 18
Bosnia and HerzegovinaFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
BulgariaFri, Apr 18National Holiday
CyprusFri, Apr 18National Holiday
EritreaFri, Apr 18National Holiday
EthiopiaFri, Apr 18National Holiday
GeorgiaFri, Apr 18National Holiday
GreeceFri, Apr 18National Holiday
LebanonFri, Apr 18National Holiday
MontenegroFri, Apr 18National Holiday
RomaniaFri, Apr 18National Holiday
SerbiaFri, Apr 18National Holiday
2024 Various May 3
Bosnia and HerzegovinaFri, May 3Regional Holiday
BulgariaFri, May 3National Holiday
CyprusFri, May 3National Holiday
EritreaFri, May 3National Holiday
EthiopiaFri, May 3National Holiday
GeorgiaFri, May 3National Holiday
GreeceFri, May 3National Holiday
LebanonFri, May 3National Holiday
MontenegroFri, May 3National Holiday
RomaniaFri, May 3National Holiday
SerbiaFri, May 3National Holiday
2023 Various Apr 14
Bosnia and HerzegovinaFri, Apr 14Regional Holiday
BulgariaFri, Apr 14National Holiday
CyprusFri, Apr 14National Holiday
EritreaFri, Apr 14National Holiday
EthiopiaFri, Apr 14National Holiday
GeorgiaFri, Apr 14National Holiday
GreeceFri, Apr 14National Holiday
LebanonFri, Apr 14National Holiday
MontenegroFri, Apr 14National Holiday
RomaniaFri, Apr 14National Holiday
SerbiaFri, Apr 14National Holiday
2022 Various Apr 22
Bosnia and HerzegovinaFri, Apr 22Regional Holiday
BulgariaFri, Apr 22National Holiday
CyprusFri, Apr 22National Holiday
EritreaFri, Apr 22National Holiday
EthiopiaFri, Apr 22National Holiday
GeorgiaFri, Apr 22National Holiday
GreeceFri, Apr 22National Holiday
LebanonFri, Apr 22National Holiday
MontenegroFri, Apr 22National Holiday
RomaniaFri, Apr 22National Holiday
SerbiaFri, Apr 22National Holiday
2021 Various Apr 30
Bosnia and HerzegovinaFri, Apr 30Regional Holiday
BulgariaFri, Apr 30National Holiday
CyprusFri, Apr 30National Holiday
EritreaFri, Apr 30National Holiday
EthiopiaFri, Apr 30National Holiday
GeorgiaFri, Apr 30National Holiday
GreeceFri, Apr 30National Holiday
LebanonFri, Apr 30National Holiday
MontenegroFri, Apr 30National Holiday
RomaniaFri, Apr 30National Holiday
SerbiaFri, Apr 30National Holiday
  Summary

Easter is the principal festival of Greece and the Orthodox Church

  Which countries observe Orthodox Good Friday in 2024?
National Holiday Regional Holiday Not a public holiday Govt Holiday

When is Orthodox Good Friday?

Orthodox Good Friday takes place on the Friday before Orthodox Easter Sunday.

Easter is the principal festival of Greece and the Orthodox Church.

Traditions of Orthodox Good Friday

The first ceremony takes place on Good Friday where the "Epitafios", an imitation of the Christ's funeral bier, is decorated with many flowers by the local women. The "Epitafios" is then paraded through the streets of the villages or the neighbourhoods of the cities.

In some areas of Greece such as Crete, the ceremony is also accompanied by the burning of effigies of Judas Iscariot.

A great celebration also takes places on the Saturday, for Christ's triumphant return. At the stroke of midnight, all the lights of the churches are put out to symbolise the darkness which enveloped Christ as He passed through the underworld. Then a priest appears holding aloft a lighted taper and chanting "Avto to Fos… "(This is the Light…) and uses the Holy flame to light the candles of nearby worshippers. These worshippers then share their Light with their neighbours, until the entire church and the courtyard is illuminated by the candlelight.

After midnight, the families and friends meet to eat the "Mayeretsa", a soup made from lamb tripe, rice, dill and lemon. The rest of the lamb will be roasted on Sunday morning for the lunch, with wines and dances.

This festival is of great importance across all of Greece but some place are notable for their Easter celebrations: Hydra, Corfu, Pyrgi on Chios, Olymbos on Karpathos and St John's monastery on Patmos.


Translate this page