The Epitaphs of Florina

At noon on Good Friday, the faithful attend the ceremony of the Deposition, which takes place in the churches along with the re-enactment of the burial, while throughout the day the church bells ring mournfully. Due to the day’s mourning, the custom even commands that no household chores be done, even avoiding cooking, while a fast is observed that forbids even oil.
Epitaph – from the ancient Greek “on the tomb” – in Christian times meant the representation of the body of Jesus Christ after the Deposition from the Cross in a posture of preparation for burial painted on cloth. On the evening of Good Friday we have the climax of the Divine Drama, when the procession of the Epitaph takes place.
In Florina the procession of the Epitaphs of the Metropolitan Church of St. Panteleimon, the Church of St. George, the Church of Agia Paraskevi and the Church of St. Demetrios, culminates with their meeting in the central square of the city, with the Philharmonic of the Municipality in the procession of the Holy Litany and mournful marches are sung.