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The Greek Church

Living symbol of tradition, this church was built to replace the original one which was no longer large enough.carg_d20.jpg (23226 octets)
Building started around 1852 and was only completed 20 years later. The faithful all contributed to the construction working each Sunday after the Mass until sunset.

The sanctuary, as in all oriental churches, is separated from the nave by an iconostasis or a wooden partition covered with paintings of saints.

This iconostasis, primary intended for the convent of Grotta-Ferrata, near Rome, was a gift from the Congregation of Propaganda to the colony.It dates from 1886.

Of the two side chapels, the one on the right is dedicated to the " Panaghia " or "Toute Sainte", patron saint of the Congregationalists of the Virgin, and the one on the left to Saint Spyridon. patron saint of the brotherhood of the same name to which all the Greeks belong from birth as do more than a third of the Catholic population.
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Four icons were brought from Greece on 1676:

1 - The Byzantine icon of the Virgin with the Child Jesus in her arms. below are Saint Spyridon and Saint Nicholas : the icon is believed to date back to the 12th or 13th century. With great solemnity it is paraded round town in processions.

2 - The Three Elders of the Eastern Church: Saint Basil, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus and Saint John Chrysostom

3 - Saint John the Baptist with the wings of on angel.

4 - The Epitaphios. a painting on cut-out wood, double-sided, representing the Entombment of Christ ; it shows the Virgin Mary, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathia.

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For Services and ceremonies, the congregation follow almost exactly the rite of Athens and of Constantinople, as do the Greek-Catholic colonies of Paris, Lyon. and Marseilles.Ancient Greek is still the liturgical language, whereas modern Greek tends to disappear nowadays from spoken conversation.
Of great help to the parishioners, enabling them to read and understand the services is the fact that prayer-books are available containing the original texts in Roman characters as well as the French transation.
The two most important solemn occasions attracting many people, are :
- the Eastern Monday ceremony with the blessing of the countryside.
- the Saint Spyridon fete day, the saint's day of Cargèse. vihicn is celebrated on 12th December

carg_d17.jpg (38075 octets)Baptism is given as in oriental churches by triple immersion. The priest then confirms the child, who takes communion with wine with the aid of a spoon.

The faithful take communion by taking both breed end wine.
The wedding ceremony involves the placing of crowns, one with vine leaves and the other with an olive branch.

Cargèse has approximately 300 parishioners of the Greek faith.

Crédit Photos Office de Tourisme de Cargèse


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