Orthodox Easter in Athens: 2027 and 2028 Dates and Holy Week Customs
Greek Easter is the biggest holiday of the year, and Athens changes for a week. Here is the calendar, the customs and the practical side for residents who stay in town.
Orthodox Easter Sunday falls on 2 May 2027 and 16 April 2028. In Athens, the key moments are the Epitaphios processions on the evening of Good Friday (30 April 2027) and the Resurrection service just before midnight on Holy Saturday, when churches fill, candles are lit and fireworks go off across the city.
Greek Easter follows the Julian calendar for its date, so it usually falls later than Western Easter. Dates below are calculated from the Orthodox Easter rule and match the Greek church calendar, as of November 2026.
When is Orthodox Easter in 2027 and 2028?
| Day | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Monday (start of Lent) | 15 March | 28 February |
| Palm Sunday | 25 April | 9 April |
| Good Friday | 30 April | 14 April |
| Holy Saturday | 1 May | 15 April |
| Easter Sunday | 2 May | 16 April |
| Easter Monday | 3 May | 17 April |
| Whit Monday | 21 June | 5 June |
In 2027, Holy Saturday falls on 1 May, Labour Day. Our guide to Greek public holidays in 2027 explains how that holiday may move.
What happens during Holy Week in Athens?
Holy Week (Megali Evdomada) runs from Palm Sunday to Easter. Churches hold services every evening, and many Greeks fast from meat, dairy and fish (with exceptions) for the week, or the whole of Lent.
- Holy Thursday: households dye eggs red and bake tsoureki, a sweet braided bread. In the evening churches read the Twelve Gospels.
- Good Friday: a day of mourning. Church bells toll slowly, women decorate the Epitaphios (the bier of Christ) with flowers in the morning, and in the evening each parish carries it through the streets in a candlelit procession. In central Athens, processions from Plaka, Kolonaki and Syntagma-area churches meet in nearby squares, and the Metropolitan Cathedral’s procession draws large crowds.
- Holy Saturday: the Holy Light (Agio Fos) is flown from Jerusalem and taken to churches. Shortly before midnight people gather at their parish church with white candles (lambades).
- Easter Sunday: lamb on the spit or in the oven, family meals that last all afternoon, and egg-cracking (tsougrisma).
What is the midnight Resurrection service?
At midnight between Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, church lights go out, the priest brings out the light, and it passes from candle to candle through the crowd. The priest announces “Christos Anesti” (Christ is risen), people answer “Alithos Anesti” (truly he is risen), bells ring and fireworks and firecrackers go off. Many people carry the lit candle home and mark a cross with its smoke above the door.
After the service, families eat magiritsa, a soup made with lamb offal, greens and an egg-lemon sauce, which breaks the fast. Restaurants that open that night usually serve a set Resurrection meal; book ahead.
Where can you attend the service in Athens?
Any parish church is open to visitors; the service is the same in a small neighborhood church as in a famous one. The chapel of Agios Georgios on Lycabettus Hill holds a popular midnight service with a view of the city lit by candles and fireworks. The path up the hill is crowded and dark, and the funicular gets busy, so allow plenty of time. The Metropolitan Cathedral near Syntagma is the official one, often attended by officials, and is very crowded.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before midnight; crowds spill into the street.
- Buy a white candle from a kiosk or the church entrance.
- Dress modestly; shoulders covered is the custom inside churches.
- Firecrackers are loud and sometimes thrown carelessly; keep children close and watch your hair and clothes near candles.
What is closed over Easter in Athens?
| Day | Typical situation |
|---|---|
| Holy Week Monday to Thursday | Shops on extended hours, supermarkets busy, Sunday opening possible on Palm Sunday |
| Good Friday | Shops open late morning or after services and close early; public sector closed |
| Holy Saturday | Shops and supermarkets close in the afternoon |
| Easter Sunday | Almost everything closed; archaeological sites and state museums closed |
| Easter Monday | Shops and public offices closed; some cafes and restaurants open |
Exact festive hours are published by the traders’ associations each spring. Our guide to shop opening hours in Athens explains the usual pattern.
How does the city empty, and what about traffic?
Many Athenians spend Easter in their family village. The exodus peaks from Holy Wednesday to Good Friday, with heavy traffic on the national roads toward Lamia and Patras and long queues at the Piraeus and Rafina ferry ports. The return on Easter Monday evening and Tuesday is just as slow. Traffic police usually announce extra measures, and ferry tickets for Easter sell out.
For those who stay, Athens is quiet and pleasant: light traffic, open cafes from Monday, and spring weather. Public transport runs on holiday timetables on Easter Sunday and Monday.
Bottom line
Do your food shopping by Thursday and order lamb from a butcher in advance if you cook. If you are invited to a Greek family Easter, bring red eggs, tsoureki or sweets, and expect the meal to last until evening.
FAQ
Why is Greek Easter on a different date?
The Orthodox Church calculates Easter with the Julian calendar and requires it to fall after the Jewish Passover. In some years both Easters coincide.
Can non-Orthodox visitors attend services?
Yes. Visitors are welcome at all services. Dress modestly and follow what the people around you do.
Is the Acropolis open at Easter?
Archaeological sites close on Easter Sunday. On Good Friday and Holy Saturday they usually have shorter hours, so check before you go.
What does Christos Anesti mean?
It means “Christ is risen”, the Easter greeting used from midnight on Holy Saturday for 40 days. The reply is “Alithos Anesti”.
