The ecstatic anastenarides keeping holy icons and handkerchiefs in the hands walk over glowing coals. Agia Eleni, Serres, Greece

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Agia Eleni, Serres - Located 14 kilometers from the city of Serres focuses the attention of admirers of the custom, the third week of May. Custom has its roots in pagan rites continued to Dionysian mysteries, and keep to our days in the Greek territory. Followers of custom places like Agia Eleni and Kerkini in Serres, Lagadas in Thessaloniki, Mavrolefki in Drama and Meliki in Imathia. Principal of these is Agia Eleni and Lagadas. The history of the custom started by the northeastern Thrace and village Kosti. After the population exchange in 1923 the inhabitants of this region of Thrace settled in different areas of the Greek region of Macedonia and especially where brought their cultural heritage, a part of the custom of Anastenaria.

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Size: 4367px × 2911px
Location: Agia Eleni, Serres, Greece
Photo credit: © Konstantinos Tsakalidis / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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