Feast of Sts. Constantine and Helen

Friday, May 22

Today we celebrated Kostas’ nameday and that of his little grandson, Konstantinos. It wasn’t much of a big deal, as the main celebration is going to be in their village, Nea Syllata, over the weekend.

Demetrios went to a bookstore downtown, where he ran into Manolis’ sister, Eirini (Irene). He mentioned he was in search of a good book about St. Constantine for Kostas, and Eirini said, “I’ve just bought this one for another Kostas,” showing it to him. “I’ve read it. It’s excellent. It shows how, despite what some people say, St. Constantine was a very great Christian, a very great saint, and a very great man.”

“Oh, then, I’ll get the same one.”

“Take this one,” she said.

“Oh, no, I’ll just…”

“Take it!” and she thrust it into his hand.

And that’s how Kostas received a book inscribed to him “from Anastasia, Demetrios, and Eirini.”


Saturday, May 23, 2009

There’s a weird way certain villages in Greece celebrate the feast of Sts. Konstantinos and Eleni, that we watched on television today. It is to walk over hot coals. That is, people don’t exactly walk over the hot coals; they dance over them, slowly, clutching icons, and when their feet are not burned, they claim it is a miracle.

There’s a two-day preparation the participants undergo. It’s secret, so we don’t know any details, but it involves going into a trance. (And dancing, to monotonous drums, helps.)

The Church has tried to wipe out this very pagan-feeling custom, but without success.