DOCUMENTARIES for easter practices in tilos

COMM'ON supported the community of Tilos to complete and register the "Easter Practices of Tilos" in the National Inventory of Cultural Heritage of Greece, for the Greek Ministry of Culture with the production of two mini documentaries "Lazarus" and "Easter Candles".

The overall project was designed to raise awareness within the local community, collect oral testimonies, and create a digital archive focused on two unique Easter practices of the island of Tilos: the practices of “Lazarus” and “Easter Candles”.

It was a result of an ongoing partnership between COMM'ON and the Municipality of Tilos that started back in 2024.

COMM'ON produced, two mini documentaries, with funding from the J. F. Costopoulos Foundation, in collaboration with the Municipality of Tilos. Directed by Nefeli Papaioannou, the documentaries supports the submission of Tilos’s Easter customs to the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, maintained by the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Both documentaries are available online via YouTube platform with english and greek subtitles.

“The Lazarus Tradition”

This tradition takes place on the Saturday before Holy Week, both in Megalo Chorio and Loupies (an designated area in Charcadio). People gather to make flower bouquets, collect a herb called “kokkinadi”,  create a “cave” from which Lazarus will “emerge”, the children play between two hills, to save their “king”, everyone is singing Lazarus carols. The ritual culminates in a reenactment of Lazarus’ resurrection by the children before everyone moves back to Megalo Chorio to sing the Lazarus carols in the village.

available here: https://youtu.be/EiMwKqkSgTU?si=vLmUm9atm-U2um9G

“The Easter Candles” (Keria, or Keria with kokkinadi)

The candles are made annually during the Holy Week in the village of Megalo Chorio. The process begins with a thick string dipped in wax, followed by immersion in kokkinadi extract, giving the candles their distinct deep red color. These handmade candles are distributed to the community for use during the Good Friday Epitaph procession.

Available here: https://youtu.be/ZqZrG5GkfHI?si=yMhpzMSjQYg1fe1z

. . . .

When: Spring 2025

Where: Tilos Island

The project was implemented with the support of the J. F. Costopoulos Foundation, in close collaboration with the Municipality of Tilos, the Tilos Cultural Association, the Tilos Youth Union and members of the local community.