A floral tribute to Lay our Lord into

It’s been two weeks since we were feverishly getting things ready for the final big days of Easter.
And the last Thursday of Holy Week, 17 April 2025, was a very special day……..

What a splendid morning it was as some of the ladies of the community came together to create the glorious flower-bedecked “Epitaphios” or funerary bier which was the whole focus of our Holy Friday night service and procession, plus beautiful wreaths for the cross.

We also had a kiddies’ group busily making cute little posy pots for the church windows.

I have been asked what the significance of this beautiful bower of flowers is.

Good or Holy Friday is the most solemn day of Holy Week, a day of mourning, because on this day the Savior of the world was crucified and buried.

There are three key elements which add uniqueness to the church service in the evening.
The Epitáphios, a symbolical construction depicting the tomb of the Lord; the Chants of Lament ( hymns and songs of the symbolic funeral service); and the Epitaph Procession on the streets and around the church enacting the path to the tomb.

The Epitaphios is a religious item that is usually painted or embroidered on linen, velvet, or silk. The term “epi tafos” means “upon the tomb.” It represents the dead body of Jesus wrapped in a burial shroud and is placed at the center of the church on a special table with a carved canopy, called a “kouvouklion”which is decorated with flowers. This bier or catafalque is also called the Epitaphios or Epitaph and represents the tomb of Christ.

Along with the Epitaphios, the Holy Gospel and the Holy Cross are also placed on the table.

The whole aspect and atmosphere surrounding the Service of the Epitaphios is somber and serious and we are not just spectators but we become partakers in the tragedy of the Saviour’s sacrifice.

The service of Lamentation continues with the Epitaph Procession, which symbolizes the funeral cortège.

The Epitaphios is carried on the shoulders of young men of the congregation followed by the convoy of congregants with lit candles. At this time, the bells of the church accompany the procession with their mournful clanging in the background.

After the procession of the Epitaph around the streets it is held up at the door of the church. The congregation then reverently pass under it, symbolically going through the ritual of descent into the grave, together with Christ, so that afterward, they will rise again with Him, to overcome death and enjoy salvation.

So therefore the embellishment of the Epitaphios is vastly important and the creation of these beautiful floral decorations are a blessing in their own right.

So please enjoy some photos of our special day of adornment – it’s a huge task taking several hours and loads of blooms but lots of girly fun too.

After Holy Friday night the Epitaphios is returned to its usual place in the church still covered in the flowers until the Saturday before Pentecost.

After the Divine Liturgy of the day the dried up petals are taken and put in small bags to be distributed to the congregation as a blessing and are taken home and some also scatter them on the graves of their loved ones.

And so these beautiful blooms placed so lovingly with caring hands on the Epitaph find their way into our homes and hearts.

This year they decorated a second smaller and lighter version of the Epitaphios as well, so that it could more easily be carried in the procession. Our original and treasured Epitaphios is exquisitely carved in wood so you can imagine how heavy that is up and down a hill!

Deepest thanks to Sam Phillippou and her crew of lovely talented ladies who made these gorgeous floral tributes for Pascha.

Bravo! May your hands always be blessed.

(Text and photos: Pepe Sofianos)