Greek churches unleash firework battle to usher in Easter

Easter is one of the holiest days in the Orthodox calendar, but it’s not a time for quiet contemplation for the residents of Vrondados on the Greek island of Chios.

The parishioners of the village’s two churches – the Agios Markos and the Panagia Erythiani fire hundreds of rockets at each other in a mock war.

The side that hits the bell tower of the other church first is the winner of the Rouketopolemos or “rocket war” – but the two sides never agree on who the real victor is, so the ritual has to be repeated the following year.

Many Greeks celebrate midnight mass on Easter Sunday with fireworks, but the battle of the two churches is unique to Vrondados.

The tradition appears to date back to the Ottoman era, but its origins are unclear.

Visitors from around the world now come to the village to see the spectacular firework barrage.

A Turkish tourist said: “We heard about it with my friends and we just wanted to come here. This is our first time and we are definitely going to come again, for sure.”