Messosporitissa Festivity (All-holy Mother of God of the… (Greece)
Nomination: Representative List 2024
EN: Preparing polyspori at the 'Adrachti' Folklore Society of Eleusis. The polyspori mix is prepared with grains, mostly cereals and legumes, which are boiled with molasses and some sugar added
EN: The polyspori mix is ready. It will be distributed after Evensong. In the old days, women in the community would prepare it at home and bring it to church together with the bread, the wine and the olive oil
EN: Going to the Evensong. This is where the Eleusinian Mysteries took place during Antiquity. The Plutoneion, the cave where legend has it that Persephone would appear after her return from Hades, is visible in the background. At the hilltop is the chapel of 'Panagitsa in the Ancient Ruins'
EN: Climbing the hill to go to Evensong on the afternoon of 20 November, the eve of the feast day
EN: Believers enter the chapel in reverence, to light a candle and to pray
EN: Bread offered by the believers, to be blessed by the priest and distributed to the participants. They write the names of their beloved persons to be included in the prayer for the health and prosperity of the community
EN: The transmission of the element to younger generations takes place through experiential participation in the ceremony, often from childhood
EN: The priest blesses the offerings of the faithful and prays 'for a bountiful harvest'. Along with the bread, small quantities of wine and olive oil are also blessed. The three staple food stuffs (wheat, olive oil and wine) become symbolic parts of the ritual
EN: Bread is distributed to the participants after the end of Evensong
EN: Believers leave the chapel and cross the archaeological site of Eleusis. In the background, the Saronic Gulf and the island of Salamina are visible. The urbanization of Eleusis and its emergence as an industrial centre coexist with a sense of sanctity deeply rooted in cultural memory and the landscape
