Ag. Panteleimona

Most liturgies at the exoklisia are hosted by one family and have a small gathering. Not so with Agio Panteleimona. There was heavy traffic on the road below my house in Aetofolia of cars heading to that church. Although the church is located in a remote setting, there is a dirt road that goes directly to the church. The liturgy started at 7:00 pm and there was already a long line of cars when I got there.






The courtyard of the church was full of people. Many looked on from the doorway. The seating outside was full. To the left, it was a long line of only men. To the right, it was a long line of various families sitting side by side. Faviana found her friends and went and sat with them by the entrance to the church.










The liturgy actually lasted awhile. It seemed like Father Rihardo wanted to put on the full mass since he had such a large gathering. The setting itself was beautiful and I stood outside looking out to Draconisi, a large rock in the sea or just milled around the courtyard. There were several religious people who actually wanted to listen to the service and shushed the talking crowd outside of the church at various religiously sacred times.







After the service ended, various guests broke out the refreshments. There was plenty of raki to be had, fried tomato dumplings, tiropites, chocolate covered cookies, merengues, almond cookies, cake, and some other unidentified deserts that passed by before I could look at them. The people greeted each other, Kai tou Xronou (and to next year) and they all took off, sated from food and drink and proud to have done their duty religiously. What a great panagiri!