Okay I know this doesn’t fit into what I’ll mostly be putting in this blog but it is still weekend related. This weekend for most Eastern Orthodox around the world it is Easter and one of my favorite holidays as Easter is the biggest holiday in the Orthodox Church. Celebrations are long and very spiritual, and include a lot of traditions. In the West Easter is all about egg hunting and chocolate. Thankfully in Beirut some of the old traditions survive. Two that you can witness this weekend are Jinez El Massih (literally funeral of Christ) where people mark the death of Jesus on the Cross and Hijmeh, the traditional Sunday morning mass celebrating the Resurrection. Even if you’re not religious or Christian at all I suggest attending both as to get a sense of how Easter was celebrated in old times. If you’re in Beirut head to Mar Mitr (Saint Demtrious Church) which is next to Spinneys and across the lower entrance of ABC Mall to catch the funeral procession. The mass is long but the funeral procession is around 7-8 PM and neighboring streets in the Achrafieh are closed as the local priest and deacons carry a shrouded icon of Christ singing traditional hymns.
The beginning of the funeral procession
People carrying the icon of Christ from the Church
Funeral procession through the streets of Beirut
Hijmeh, or literally “attack”, is Easter Sunday morning. Starting early in the morning faithful congregants begin their prayers outside of the church and then rush in or literally “attack” going into the church representing that they have over come evil. Last year I was lucky enough to attend it both at St. Nicholas and the Annunciation Church in Achrafieh. People mostly come wearing white, celebrating the end of Lent.
St. Nicholas Cathedral
Interior of the cathedral
Church of the Annunciation
And well if you’re not into anything spiritually related, there’s always the beach! In my opinion May and June are the best times for the beach. Water is calm and there’s no jellyfish!
White Beach, Batroun
PaulinBeirut 