Stately and colorful, Chios is renowned for Easter and its spectacular customs found nowhere else in Greece.
Blending tradition and enchanting nature, Chios, the jewel of the northeastern Aegean and Greece’s fifth-largest island, is one of the best destinations for Easter. The land of mastiha boasts beautiful landscapes and picturesque villages unlike any other, offering visitors serenity as well as opportunities for exploration. One thing is certain: in Chios you will experience an unforgettable Easter with rich and spectacular customs.
Easter in Chios
Easter in Chios is renowned for its impressive customs. The locals’ preparations for the Resurrection night begin well before Holy Week. In the island’s churches and monasteries, the Epitaphios biers are adorned on Holy Thursday. One of the most impressive and historic monasteries is the Nea Moni of Chios founded in 1042 and famed for its mosaics.
In Chora on Good Friday the Epitaphios processions are a distinctive spectacle. At the Cathedral the procession passes through the narrow alleys accompanied by the philharmonic, ending at the central square (Vounakiou), where the Epitaphios from the other parishes meet amid the hymns of the Lamentations.
On the morning of Holy Saturday, during the First Resurrection liturgy, the faithful bang the pews at the moment the priest announces Christ’s Resurrection. On Resurrection night in the Mastihochoria such as Pyrgi and Mesta, as well as in Avgonyma, the Fanos is revived. Locals gather piles of branches and logs and light great bonfires to burn the effigy of Judas.
That night is the most important for the island of Chios, as the Resurrection is celebrated with the distinctive custom of the rocket war. In Vrontados the two rival parishes, St. Mark and Panagia Ereithiani, start the rocket war shortly before midnight. This custom seems to have its roots in the Ottoman era, and the homemade rockets, wooden sticks packed with gunpowder, aim at the bell tower of the rival church. The sky fills with light and, especially from afar, the spectacle is breathtaking.
On Easter Sunday, they are counted and the years winner is decided, while spit-roasted lamb with dancing is found in almost every home. Savor the traditional mastic-scented tsoureki and the masourakia or mastichakia, the traditional sweet Chians make for the holidays. Try souma, the fig distillate produced on the island.
What to do in Chios
Chios is one of those islands that never lets the traveler get bored. Begin your stroll in Chios Town and the Castle on the northern side of the harbor. Within its stone walls you will see the houses and wander the narrow lanes. Just one and a half kilometers away stand the Tabakika windmills about 10 m. high, monuments of historical value that impress visitors.
In spring on Chios the villages take center stage, with nature at its best. In Kampos you will admire the well-preserved mansions and the citrus orchards, while in the village of Volissos you will see the surviving Byzantine castle and savor the view, especially at sunset. In Lagada you will eat fresh seafood by the water, while in Agios Georgios Sykousis you will admire the medieval buildings and soak up the enchanting views towards Kampos and the Aegean.
Southern Chios stands apart from the rest of the island. The famed Mastihochoria preserve their medieval architecture, as their history dates back to the 14th century. Today 24 survive, the best known being Pyrgi and Mesta. Pyrgi is a village famed for its decorated houses, preserved just as it was originally built. Mesta is among the island’s loveliest villages, with Byzantine architecture, the charming central square and the old coffee houses. Very close by you will also find the Chios Mastiha Museum, where you will see a grove of mastic trees up close and learn all about the cultivation and processing of mastiha.
South of Chios Town lies the historic Monastery of Agios Minas, founded in the 16th century, built atop a hill near Neochori. You will have the chance to learn the monastery’s history through the museum housed there. Pair your visit with a stroll through Neochori with its stone-built houses.
If the weather allows and you want to take the first dip of the year or simply unwind by the waves, the island’s roughly 100 beaches are ideal for strolls. The Mavra Volia beach is the island’s most famous and is considered among Europe’s finest, thanks to its volcanic pebbles. It’s also worth visiting Vroulidia, Komi, Agia Dynami and the beach of Glaroi.
