I'm not making any point here except that it is weird world in which we live. This article is the beginning of from yesterday's Times and can be accessed here.
Once a year during Greek Orthodox Easter, on the night of the resurrection of Christ, the parishioners of two churches in the town of Vrodandos on the picturesque eastern Aegean island of Chios become for a short time, opponents in a war like no other. It is called the Chios rocket war – a friendly battle between the churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani.
The rocket war is a tradition that dates to the early 19th century at the time of the Ottoman occupation. Although its origin has been lost over time, the most popular legend is that of seafarers from the island, who used to battle pirates with cannons on their ships. When they returned home they brought their cannons, and began a custom of firing them at the Easter holiday. In 1889, the Ottoman occupiers banned it and confiscated the cannons, fearing they would be used in a revolt.
This resulted in the locals replacing the cannons with homemade rockets. The parishioners of the two churches, who always had a friendly rivalry, added the competition that has evolved and continues today.
As Easter mass takes place to mark the resurrection of Christ on the Saturday evening, rival gangs from the parishes fire thousands of homemade rockets across a valley at each other’s churches. The objective is to hit the bell-tower of the “enemy’s” church. What ensues is a spectacle of streaking lights whizzing toward each other across the sky, filling the valley between with smoke.
Air raid sirens wail across the town to inform the inhabitants, churchgoers and spectators of the approaching rockets, and thousands of people gather to watch as the rockets strike the churches.
Inside, the Easter mass takes place and churchgoers light candles despite the smashing of rockets against the walls. The devout run to reach the church for mass and watch the opposing side’s rockets approach from behind protective fine wire mesh that has been wrapped around the church.
The climax comes as church bells ring to announce Christ's resurrection at midnight, immediately drowned by the whizzing sounds of the barrages of rockets and exploding multi-coloured fireworks.
However, the tradition does not come without its dangers. Small fires can break out in the valley between the two churches, and the island’s fire brigade rushes to smother any fires ignited by stray rockets. Firefighters and volunteer watch teams spend the evening patrolling the area as stray rockets can set fire to trees, bushes and homes.
The rocket war has also caused injuries in the past, such as the loss of eyes or limbs and even deaths during production of the rockets, etc.
The rocket war is a tradition that dates to the early 19th century at the time of the Ottoman occupation. Although its origin has been lost over time, the most popular legend is that of seafarers from the island, who used to battle pirates with cannons on their ships. When they returned home they brought their cannons, and began a custom of firing them at the Easter holiday. In 1889, the Ottoman occupiers banned it and confiscated the cannons, fearing they would be used in a revolt.
This resulted in the locals replacing the cannons with homemade rockets. The parishioners of the two churches, who always had a friendly rivalry, added the competition that has evolved and continues today.
As Easter mass takes place to mark the resurrection of Christ on the Saturday evening, rival gangs from the parishes fire thousands of homemade rockets across a valley at each other’s churches. The objective is to hit the bell-tower of the “enemy’s” church. What ensues is a spectacle of streaking lights whizzing toward each other across the sky, filling the valley between with smoke.
Air raid sirens wail across the town to inform the inhabitants, churchgoers and spectators of the approaching rockets, and thousands of people gather to watch as the rockets strike the churches.
Inside, the Easter mass takes place and churchgoers light candles despite the smashing of rockets against the walls. The devout run to reach the church for mass and watch the opposing side’s rockets approach from behind protective fine wire mesh that has been wrapped around the church.
The climax comes as church bells ring to announce Christ's resurrection at midnight, immediately drowned by the whizzing sounds of the barrages of rockets and exploding multi-coloured fireworks.
However, the tradition does not come without its dangers. Small fires can break out in the valley between the two churches, and the island’s fire brigade rushes to smother any fires ignited by stray rockets. Firefighters and volunteer watch teams spend the evening patrolling the area as stray rockets can set fire to trees, bushes and homes.
The rocket war has also caused injuries in the past, such as the loss of eyes or limbs and even deaths during production of the rockets, etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment