This
year’s 3 day festival of the 99 Holy Fathers in Azogires had a different touch . Real live cretan
music from an 80 year old musician
called Manolis Ntaountakis and his friend Mpompolakis Giorgos , played with their hearts and not for their
profit , something that made a huge difference.
People danced until the mid morning hours as if they were children , I can say that for the first time in over 20 years I felt the blessing of the (99) Holy Fathers and their presence amongst the worshipers , as soon as the evening Church service finished they all came up the, musicians were already playing they dint even stop for water .
People danced until the mid morning hours as if they were children , I can say that for the first time in over 20 years I felt the blessing of the (99) Holy Fathers and their presence amongst the worshipers , as soon as the evening Church service finished they all came up the, musicians were already playing they dint even stop for water .
We even had the Honor for one of Chanias finest politicians to be in our presence ,our very own George Kontaxakis A man who never looked at politics for his own profit but dedicated his life serving the public ,he always cares about the people and that’s what makes him different from the rest .
The
next morning we all went down to the Monastery to take part in one of the most
holy and most mystical church ceremonies in southwest Crete , then we had
everyone up n the café for coffee The afternoon arrived and bus after took the people away,it was time to clean up all the tables back to the people who lend them to us .
The
following day the villagers gathered at the Church of the miracoulous St, John
the Hermit in the Neighborhood of Koukoutsiana
, st John was the leaderof the 99 and He has been our family’s protector for over
300 years ,afterall he did live in our neighborhood , my Father cooked steaks
for everyone my uncle pavlos and his Wife Katina laid out the tables made salads and cut cheese ,we ate we drank and
started to sign Rizitika songs traditional
Cretan songs that have their origins in the deep Minoan Period of Crete we all went home with our stomachs full and
our hearts filled with joy for the first time in my 20 years festival experience i did not feel tired .
That evening we had the last Norwegian Group of the year From Liliput Reisen and we had a great time dancing, farewell to all and hope to see you next year was the last thing I said to them with a tear hiding behind my eye lids cause I will miss doing this job , for story telling is my true passion .
The following day I had to go to Chania for a very important event in Cretes history but that’s another story for another time . I leave you all now cause I must recover also from the heavy drinking and 3 days of Rizitika singing may the 99 always walk on your path of life .
That evening we had the last Norwegian Group of the year From Liliput Reisen and we had a great time dancing, farewell to all and hope to see you next year was the last thing I said to them with a tear hiding behind my eye lids cause I will miss doing this job , for story telling is my true passion .
The following day I had to go to Chania for a very important event in Cretes history but that’s another story for another time . I leave you all now cause I must recover also from the heavy drinking and 3 days of Rizitika singing may the 99 always walk on your path of life .
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