6th June Pentecost Sunday (Orthodox)

There is a whole story to tell about Pentecost Sunday, but that is for another day and time. Here is a brief summary.  It was difficult to determine the start time of the service.  In the end we settled on the 8:00 am option.  Arriving at 7:45 we found ourselves one of about 8 congregation, mainly old ladies dressed in black, that had already done 15 minutes of worship.  Late arrival did not attract stares or concern and the reason soon became obvious. As the service progressed new arrivals  wandered in continuously following the same ritual of  lighting candles reverencing Icons and  greeting those already present.  all the time the cantors (lay) continued to lead us in litanies and prayers with no break or pause. For some we stood for others we sat. Occasionally the priest appeared from behind the Iconostasis. to add to the prayers or gently waft incense in our direction.

Shortly after 9:00 the main bells sounded out in a great peal and the service gained a sense of anticipation. Still people continued to enter, including families with young children.  The door on the Iconostasis was now closed and when it re opened the priest was wearing a stole and he came out to chant the Gospel of the day. More  people wandered in.  A little later he appeared with Chalice and paten moving in and out of the different doors in the Iconostasis with each part of the celebration.  To the best of our understanding, at some point the Eucharist was celebrated.  Certainly the children were invited to the front and received their spoonful of honey, but apart from the priest no one else received communion.  At no time was their silence and only on three occasions were passages spoken as opposed to being chanted.  However, in the language or tempo there was no sense of climax or even of the service drawing to a close.  Therefore it came as quite a surprise when suddenly at 10:30 the service just ended as the priest brought out a large dish piled high with pieces of bread that had been blessed earlier (not consecrated) and people all moved to the front of the church as the Priest distributed it generously. Kindly people ensured we knew that we were welcome to receive this bread.  By the end of the service some 60 or 70 people including 4 or 5 families were present.  That was Pentecost in an Orthodox village church (Basilica can bee seen in middle of picture “Delphi Campsite”. Sadly in spite of it being pentecost we did not understand the people of Greece and they did not understand us when we all spoke in our own tongue.  

Tomorrow we visit Delphi, so any questions for the Oracle please e mail them.