Lazarus Carols in Episkepsi village on Friday 15 April
Episkepsi
12 Apr 2022
/ 21:03
In each neighbourhood, there is always someone who will offer food and local wine. I hope that someone will also make ‘savouro’. That΄s all for now. The rest remain to be seen.
Something from the old times: “In Episkepsi, a village in North Corfu with only a few inhabitants, something unique happens on Lazarus Saturday eve. The village, built at an altitude of 360 meters on the slopes of the Mountain Pantokrator, is part of the Thinalia Municipality and is 5km away from Acharavi and 30km from Corfu Town.
It's Friday night. It is already dark outside. There are few people in ‘Piazza’. And about twenty more are gathered in a restaurant in the square.
Mr. Antonis is tuning his guitar: “I've been singing Lazarus Carols since I was a little boy”, and he's 87 years old today. Everybody is ready. The first notes of the violin, accordion and guitar are breaking the silence.
Mr. Karokia’s voice is being heard throughout the village as he sings the carols. Episkepsi’s Mixed Choir repeats after him. A unique sound, a special custom. If you don't experience it, you can't describe it! If you don’t feel it, you can't say it!
The choir, followed by a crowd of people, goes in all neighbourhoods, from house to house. And the people, walking silently on their tiptoes, open all the doors.
Wherever they stop, they are being offered food and local red wine. Fried potatoes and warm, homemade bread baked in a wood-fired oven, squid and olives, as well as the traditional ‘savouro’ dish. Fish fried and marinated in vinegar with fresh onions, rosemary and black raisins.
Father Nikolas is waiting outside his house. More food is being served, which quickly disappears. The choir continues to walk through the village and more and more people are coming. There are now over two hundred people. They come from the town centre, from the surrounding villages, and they all become one voice, one soul! The feelings are unique. The village, on this special night, has all its doors wide open!
At the end of the route the table is being put on the road. Mrs. Koula brings "savouro" and the last person says Easter wishes. But the feast does not end here!
Mr. Karokias picks up the guitar, George takes the accordion and the singing goes on until dawn.”
This year, Lazarus Carols will be sung on 15 April around 21:00. We will start from the centre of the village and will go through all neighbourhoods. Episkepsi's Choir will sing, but everyone is welcome to sing along.
In each neighbourhood, there is always someone who will offer food and local wine. I hope that someone will also make ‘savouro’. That's all for now. The rest remain to be seen.
It's Friday night. It is already dark outside. There are few people in ‘Piazza’. And about twenty more are gathered in a restaurant in the square.
Mr. Antonis is tuning his guitar: “I've been singing Lazarus Carols since I was a little boy”, and he's 87 years old today. Everybody is ready. The first notes of the violin, accordion and guitar are breaking the silence.
Mr. Karokia’s voice is being heard throughout the village as he sings the carols. Episkepsi’s Mixed Choir repeats after him. A unique sound, a special custom. If you don't experience it, you can't describe it! If you don’t feel it, you can't say it!
The choir, followed by a crowd of people, goes in all neighbourhoods, from house to house. And the people, walking silently on their tiptoes, open all the doors.
Wherever they stop, they are being offered food and local red wine. Fried potatoes and warm, homemade bread baked in a wood-fired oven, squid and olives, as well as the traditional ‘savouro’ dish. Fish fried and marinated in vinegar with fresh onions, rosemary and black raisins.
Father Nikolas is waiting outside his house. More food is being served, which quickly disappears. The choir continues to walk through the village and more and more people are coming. There are now over two hundred people. They come from the town centre, from the surrounding villages, and they all become one voice, one soul! The feelings are unique. The village, on this special night, has all its doors wide open!
At the end of the route the table is being put on the road. Mrs. Koula brings "savouro" and the last person says Easter wishes. But the feast does not end here!
Mr. Karokias picks up the guitar, George takes the accordion and the singing goes on until dawn.”
This year, Lazarus Carols will be sung on 15 April around 21:00. We will start from the centre of the village and will go through all neighbourhoods. Episkepsi's Choir will sing, but everyone is welcome to sing along.
In each neighbourhood, there is always someone who will offer food and local wine. I hope that someone will also make ‘savouro’. That's all for now. The rest remain to be seen.
