Resurrection on Kythira, the island of Heavenly Aphrodite
The night of Resurrection in Kythera is a mystical journey between the divine and the human, light and darkness, life and death. It is an experience that is not limited to religious rituals; it is a return to the heart of the Aegean, to the first breath of Ourania Aphrodite who, according to legend, was born from the foam of the sea and first set foot on this island.
In Kythira, the Resurrection is not just a religious event. It is a revelation. The entire island, from Chora to Karavas and Agia Pelagia, breathes with a rhythm that evokes humility and grandeur at the same time. The Vespers of Love in the monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa is transformed into a hymn of hope, where the bell resonates like an old, familiar, sacred toll.
On the evening of Resurrection, in the cobbled alleys of Chora, the lamps illuminate the balconies, while locals and visitors gather at the Church of the Crucified. The service is performed with particular reverence, and as midnight approaches, the anticipation thickens like incense. The candles are lit by the Holy Light, passing from hand to hand, as if conveying the ancient message of hope, which once sprang from the waters of Kythera together with the goddess of Love.
And when the priest whispers “Come, receive light,” a wave of emotion floods the faces. The Resurrection is not only heard — it is felt. It overflows from the souls of people and permeates the earth, the water, the air. Nature participates in this miracle. The mountain slopes of Mylopotamos, the cypress trees of Paleochora, even the salty air brought by the meltemi from Kapsali, smell of spring and a new beginning.
On Sunday morning, the island wakes up late, with the light of the sun embracing the hills like a silken veil. The courtyards are filled with the scents of lamb, herbs and wine, while the laughter of children mingles with the notes of traditional lyres. The Resurrection continues, no longer as a ritual, but as life. As joy, as sharing, as a blessing.
In Kythera, the Resurrection is a promise. That from the foam of sorrow, hope can emerge. That Heavenly Aphrodite never left the island – she remains present, in every look full of kindness, in every hand that reaches out to offer, in every heart that is reborn.
Resurrection in Kythera means remembering that light is stronger than darkness. Because, as long as there is faith in the heart and flame in the soul, no road is a dead end. Every person, no matter how dark their path, can find the light again. To lift their heads, to be reborn from their ashes, to start over with courage and hope. The Resurrection, on Kythera as in us, is not just a miracle that happened once — it is a promise that we can become better, to leave the old behind and embrace the new, with faith, love and strength of soul.
