Leonidio

The Easter celebration in Leonidio is a unique experience. All the parishes compete with each other every year for the most beautiful Epitaph, whose procession is met in the town’s center, where they chant all together with a common Prayer. The celebration’s peaks in Leonidio is on the night of Resurrection, when the construction and the elevation of colorful hot-air balloons takes place, lightening gratefully the Tsakonian sky, a uniquely spectacular custom.

Photos Credits: Tranas Konstantinos

An ideal time to visit Tyros is also the Easter period with many customs revived by young people and professionals in collaboration with the municipality of South Kynouria.

On Holy Friday, you will see the procession of the two epitaphs along the coastal road accompanied by fishing boats and many boats of visitors, while thousands of people follow the epitaphs of the two parishes reverently from land.

On Holy Saturday, young children fill the Tyros bay from end to end with thousands of lanterns that light up the sea and symbolize the souls of the Tyrian sailors and fishermen who have been lost.

At the time of the Resurrection, in the parish of the Transfiguration of the Savior at the port, you will see one of the most beautiful and ghostly customs of Greece, the burning of Judas in the sea on a special raft by Tsakonian fire-starters, accompanied by ghostly flares, which light up Tyros from one end aside.

On Easter Sunday in the parish of Agia Marina in the town square you will hear the reading of the Gospel in the Tsakonic dialect by the priests of Tyros.
A feast follows in the central square with spits and local wine.