The Dormition of the Theotokos is a very important feast in Greece: The most important feast is, of course, the Passover, and the feast of the Dormition of Theotokos is considered to be the second importance: just behind the Pasch. In some parts of Greece this holiday is called „The Feast of Summer Easter” and colloquially „15th August”. In the Catholic Church, this feast is celebrated under the name of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

What could be surprising for us, this holiday in Greece is preceded by a 15-day post (which is not valid for the sixth day of August). In August in Greece we can observe the peak of the tourist season, hence, especially in tourist areas of the country, we certainly do not even see how important it is for the Greeks day, we do not see that it is a non-working day and we do not usually notice Post.
August is not the month that upodobałam on vacation. Even at a time when my child was school-aged, I didn’t get a holiday in August: I was always too crowded and too hot. August holidays in Greece occurred to me only twice and it’s not because of the child – the disciple. The downside of this, of course, is that I do not participate in the celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos, and the Greeks feast it very beautifully. This is the day when the Greeks Gremialnie to go to their home pages, and one after which the Greeks believe that holidays and the summer season are about to end. From that day on we begin to hear on the streets wishes of „Kalo Chimona”, less and fewer Greeks will take the sea bath (although for us the water in the Greek seas will be even long, very warm), and part of small shops operating exclusively in the season The summer will slowly seek to close, which is often manifested by the lack of supply of a new commodity and a weaker choice.
It is generally believed that the feast of the Dormition of Theotokos is celebrated on the Cycladic island of Tinos. It is in the local church of Panagia Evangelistria there is a wonderful icon, which throughout the year pilgrimage the Greeks from every corner of the country, and the apogee of pilgrimage is on the 15th day of August.

The data was to take part in the celebration in Greece only once: In 2007 years on the tiny island of Tinos on the Dodecanese, where there are only two villages: Port Livadia and Megalo Chorio. There is still a third village on the island-Special: It’s micro Chorio. This is a strange village-full of it (I read that over 200-I do not count) completely ruined houses, with some small kastro and very decent church. I read that the Greeks, leaving in the years probably 50-these villages and moving to the capital took everything that was possible: even the roofs of houses.

Wchodziłam to these charming, mostly jednoizbowych, most completely ruined huts: almost in every recess-it’s probably a place for something that we call today „the fireplace.” With some huts with awe jumping skittish goats. I felt in these bungalows people’s spirit!
It is in this quite specific and completely abandoned village of Mikro Chorio in 2007, the island of Tilos was celebrated by the Dormition of the Theotokos, and the main celebration took place on the eve of the feast, the 14th of August. The devotion was scheduled for an hour wczesnowieczorną, but I appeared in the village much earlier. Permanent preparations for Panigiri and appointed Greeks have worked. In one of these abandoned houses in the vicinity of the church are decorated makeshift cuisine: I looked there of course.

Someone kroił bread, someone else was mixing something in the great boilers so much łychą that associateed me with a paddle. Someone else obierał stacks of onions and prepared other vegetables. They allowed me to take pictures, they were very friendly and they spoke English. I learned that what Kosta cooks in this great cauldron is a revithoriso, which could not be missing in the evening season, and they had to arrive at all inhabitants of the islet. I older Greek układającego in a pile of plastic plates-a fairly strong wind snatched it from the top, and the Greek had completely not been able to master it. I have decided to help him: przytrzymywałam Another plates, and he has made more and more more and more-Adonis was grateful to me, and I obviously enjoyed that I could help with these preparations.

I entered the church: photographed icons and loaves of bread stacked in the middle in a sizable pile. It is a special bread prepared for the Panigiri – in the evening you eat it. The priest asked me to do a photo during the service-I promised, of course. I lit up my next candle in this church – this was the need of my heart that was here: it is no obligation or principle.

More and more Greeks gathereded in the church and in a small square-all seats slowly filled. Even prepared a special table for local notables-it is beside him after the mass officiated among other priest. I looked at Greek: nicely, clad, but without exaggeration.

Panigiri-I dreamed of not to overlook, that it was possible to take part in the celebration…
All of them got a plate filled with delicious revithoriso, you could sip retsinę or water, you could also have a little money to buy delicious Souwlaki. In the middle of the square were musicians-bouzouki? So! I just bouzouki!

Someone exclaimed „Sousta”-the Greeks had little to be: The dances began, to which I joined with great joy… Sousta, let it be Sousta-I waited for my chasapiko, but unfortunately, which was not a tragedy, of course.

I played perfectly here, I danced syrtosa to the fallen, and it was only hard after midnight zjechałam this terrifying way down the special Busikiem, when it was even crowded on the mount, because and the panigiri lasted until dawn. Ooo-PA!