Bivongi is also the only town in Calabria where Easter is celebrated twice: Catholic Easter and Orthodox Easter. Both are lived with great devotion and represent central moments for the community, which unites Christian traditions of East and West.
Catholic Easter begins with Holy Week and solemn processions, including the Way of the Cross, and culminates with the Easter Vigil, characterized by songs and prayers.
Orthodox Easter, which almost always falls a week after the Catholic one and is celebrated according to the Julian calendar, includes the traditional blessing of bread and eggs and the Sacred Fire ceremony, symbol of the resurrection, at the Monastery of Saint John Theristis.
The Byzantine rites performed in the monastery represent a valuable link with the Greek-Orthodox roots of Bivongi and are accompanied by liturgical songs in ancient Greek.
During both holidays, the community meets for Easter lunches with traditional Calabrian dishes, creating an opportunity for meeting and cultural exchange that reflects the history of religious integration in the country.
