Greek Customs and Traditions Associated with the Monday of the Holy Spirit

The Monday of the Holy Spirit (Δευτέρα του Αγίου Πνεύματος) is one of the most beloved feast days of the Greek springtime. Throughout Greece, the feast combines liturgical celebration with customs rooted in traditions from Byzantine and Ottoman times, local village life, Pontic customs, and in some cases even practices that some believe preserve echoes of ancient Greek communal festivals. While the feast is centered on the worship of the Holy Spirit and participation in the Divine Liturgy, it is also marked by pilgrimages, fairs, dances, athletic competitions, horse races, communal meals, and unique local celebrations.

The most widespread custom is attendance at the Divine Liturgy, especially in churches and monasteries dedicated to the Holy Trinity (Αγία Τριάδα). Since many Trinity chapels are built on mountains and hills, pilgrims often travel long distances, sometimes on foot, to attend the feast. After the services, large communal meals and festivals frequently take place. Roasted lamb, goat, local cheeses, bread, wine, and seasonal foods are shared. In many villages large cauldrons of food are prepared and offered free of charge to all visitors. This custom survives particularly in Epirus, Macedonia, Thessaly, and parts of Thrace.

Throughout rural Greece, the feast is associated with πανηγύρια (village festivals). Families gather, relatives return to their ancestral villages, traditional musicians perform, and local dances continue well into the evening. In many communities this is one of the most important annual social events. 

Prologue in Sermons: June 1

On Not Judging Priests

June 1

(A Homily of Saint John Chrysostom on How One Ought to Honor a Priest)
 
By Archpriest Victor Guryev

In parishes where there are many schismatics among the Orthodox, the schismatics usually do everything possible to separate the Orthodox from the Orthodox Church. To accomplish this, they stir them up against the priests. As soon as they notice the slightest fault in an Orthodox shepherd, they immediately begin proclaiming it everywhere: "Look at the kind of shepherd you have! See what he does and how he lives! How can anyone listen to such a man? How can anyone go to him for confession?" and so on. And simple-minded Orthodox Christians often yield to these evil suggestions against their spiritual fathers, abandon them, flee from the Church, and, becoming schismatics themselves, become slanderers of Christ's priests. Therefore, in order to stop the mouths of these malicious accusers, and to remove you, brethren, from their slanderous suggestions and calumnies against the shepherd, we present to you the following teaching of Saint John Chrysostom concerning how one ought to honor a priest.