Syros in spring is one of the best choices for a unique Easter with traditions you will never forget.
In Syros Orthodox and Catholics celebrate together, experiencing Easter in a way quite different from the other inhabitants of the Cyclades. The bells ring harmoniously across the twin hills above Ermoupoli, creating a climate of coexistence and unity. On the noble island of the Cyclades the days of Holy Week exude awe. Syros dresses up to welcome travelers for endless springtime strolls.
Easter in Syros
Easter in Syros is different from the rest, with distinctive customs and traditions that bring Orthodox andCatholic residents and visitors together. On Holy Tuesday in the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, who is the patron saint of the island, the choir chants the Hymn of Kassiani.
Good Friday, the day of the Epitaphios, is a particularly special experience for visitors to Syros. On that day the harmonious coexistence of Orthodox and Catholic customs makes its presence felt, with the simultaneous procession of the Epitaphios from the Catholic and the Orthodox churches.
In Ano Syros, at the churches of San Tzortzis (Ai-Giorgis) and St. Sebastian, as well as at Evangelistria in Ermoupoli, you will experience Catholic customs, with the procession of the tunics and the dice that symbolize the Divine Passion. In Ermoupoli the Orthodox Epitaphios processions set out from the church of St. Nicholas, the Dormition of the Virgin and the Metropolitan Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour and meet in Miaouli Square in front of the Town Hall, accompanied by the philharmonic.
On the morning of Holy Saturday, the faithful at the first Resurrection strike the pews in the churches of Syros. In the evening in Ermoupoli, the Resurrection is magnificent at the Holy Church of the Resurrection of the Saviour and at the Catholic San Tzortzis in Ano Syros, with fireworks from the two hills lighting up the sky. After «Christ is Risen», you will see the statue of Christ adorned with flowers carried in procession by the Catholics. A feast follows with traditional flavors such as the customary mageiritsa. On Easter Sunday, the revelry begins early in homes and in tavernas, with lamb on the spit and local delicacies.
What to see in Syros
Syros is famed for its beautiful mansions, architectural jewels and rich attractions of the island. Take a long walk in Ermoupoli, the capital of the Cyclades, stroll through the aristocratic Vaporia quarter and the port. Admire Miaouli Square, the largest and most historic in Ermoupoli, and the Town Hall designed by Ernst Ziller in the early 19th century. A little further down you will also find the historic Apollon Municipal Theater created in 1864 by the Italian architect Pietro Sampo and a miniature of La Scala in Milan, and the church of the patron St. Nicholas with its characteristic blue dome, built in 1870.
Climb up to the settlement of Ano Syros on the hill with its wonderful view, where the influence of the Venetians and the Catholics is evident. The beautiful white houses with bougainvillea and the picturesque alleys will impress you. Here you will also find the Markos Vamvakaris Museum, where personal items of the great rebetiko musician are exhibited.
Visit Posidonia with its country villas that will take you to another era, the picturesque fishing village of Kini with tavernas by the water, Chroussa with its quaint chapels and traditional San Michalis. Make your way to the beaches of Syros, such as cosmopolitan Agathopes, tranquil Komito, sandy Azolimnos and Delfini with blue-green waters. If you love hiking, there you will find the start of the trail that leads to the island’s northern beaches.
Before you leave do not forget to taste and pack the traditional local products of the island. If you have a sweet tooth try the traditional loukoumi and halvadopita. If you love cheese then the choices are many, from the famous San Michali to graviera and kopanisti.
