Good Friday

Traffic has eased on the major thoroughfares out of Athens after the biggest Easter exodus in recent years from the capital peaked on the afternoon of Good Friday.

Data showed that from 6 a.m. on Holy Monday to 6 a.m. on Good Friday, 329,684 vehicles passed the toll plazas on the motorways to Corinth and Lamia. That figure was 309,998 last year and 291,141 in 2022.

With wind, dust & rain expected until Easter Sunday – Rainy weather in the west and north on Good Friday

Meeting of the Civil Protection Coordination Body called on Sunday by Kikilias - The forecast until Good Friday

The annual Easter exodos of Athenians from the capital picked up pace at Attica's ports, motorways and airports on Good Friday.

A total of 14 ferries are scheduled to depart for the Aegean islands and 31 for the Saronic islands. Another 12 ferries will depart from Rafina and 9 from Lavrio ports.

The Athens Traders Association announced on Friday the proposed working hours for Athens stores during the Easter holiday season, which will start on Thursday April 6, and is as follows: Thursday, April 6 and Friday, April 7 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Thursday (April 10-13) from 9 a.m.

Christians around the world celebrate Good Friday, when, according to belief, Jesus Christ died crucified on the cross. It is a non-working day of strict fasting and contemplation.

"Good Friday is a joyful sorrow. It is not desperation, it is not grief for the late Jesus", said professor Ljubomir Stojanovic from the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade.

The exodus of city dwellers for the Easter long weekend holidays is culminating on Good Friday. Athenians are leaving the city through cars, trains, ports and airports, with the volume of traffic on major exit roads being high. Greek traffic police are on alert for the exodus as emergency measures are in effect to facilitate the travellers leaving Athens.

A serious incident took place on Good Friday, when a Turkish patrol boat threatened to arrest a Greek fishing boat in the Greek sea waters. The episode started when a Turkish patrol boat warned a Greek fishing boat to leave the area near the Greek island of Inousses claiming it was in Turkish waters. The captain refused and the Turkish boat threatened to arrest the crew.

As the Greek PM, Alexis Tsipras proceeded to his designated seat at the European Parliament, Wednesday, to present Greece’s case before the plenary, photographers captured a blonde woman approaching and kissing him. Her name is Martina Anderson and she is an MEP from Northern Ireland, representing the Sinn Fein, the political branch associated with terrorist organization IRA.

The historic church of St. Voukolos (Agia Vukla) in Izmir held its first Holy Week services since 1922. Recently renovated, the church held its first Good Friday service and Epitaph procession through the streets of Izmir.