AP PHOTOS: Greek Orthodox mark Good Friday with solemn bier processions

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AP PHOTOS: Greek Orthodox mark Good Friday with solemn bier processions

2024-05-04 15:02 Last Updated At：15:10

NAFPAKTOS, Greece (AP) — The procession of “Epitaphios," symbolizing the bier that carried the body of Jesus to his grave, took place across Greece on Friday, which was Good Friday in the Orthodox Christian calendar.

The solemn processions, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square.

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A burning cross, candles and fires illuminate the Venetian port before the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

NAFPAKTOS, Greece (AP) — The procession of “Epitaphios," symbolizing the bier that carried the body of Jesus to his grave, took place across Greece on Friday, which was Good Friday in the Orthodox Christian calendar.

A municipality worker installs a burning cross before the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Municipality workers install a burning cross as a mixed choir sing before the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, arrives at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Altar boys take part in the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The processions from the two main parishes, known as "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, meet at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Altar boys take part in the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Pilgrims wait for the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, arrives at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, pass the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The processions from the two main parishes, known as "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, meet at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Fireworks explode over the Venetian port after the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

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NAFPAKTOS, Greece (AP) — The procession of “Epitaphios," symbolizing the bier that carried the body of Jesus to his grave, took place across Greece on Friday, which was Good Friday in the Orthodox Christian calendar.

A municipality worker installs a burning cross before the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Municipality workers install a burning cross as a mixed choir sing before the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, arrives at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Altar boys take part in the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The processions from the two main parishes, known as "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, meet at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Altar boys take part in the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Pilgrims wait for the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, arrives at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, pass the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The processions from the two main parishes, known as "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, meet at the Venetian port, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Fireworks explode over the Venetian port after the procession of "Epitaphios", the bier that carries the body of Jesus Christ to his grave, in Nafpaktos town, western Greece, on Good Friday, May 3, 2024. The solemn processions in Greece, with the flower-adorned biers followed by the clergy and the faithful, are often spectacular, especially in places where bier processions from each parish converge into a central square. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The city of Nafpaktos, in western Greece, is one such city. Once part of the Byzantine Empire, it was later hotly contested between the Ottoman Empire and the Venetians, who called the town Lepanto. One of the largest ever naval battles, the Battle of Lepanto, involving nearly 450 ships, was fought in the nearby Gulf of Patras on Oct. 7, 1571. A coalition of Western states defeated the Ottoman fleet.

Partly in commemoration of that event, local fishermen put their own stamp on the Good Friday bier procession by lighting fires on the battlements of the Venetian-built fortifications. The event was revived in the 1950s and, each year it follows a similar script: While the processions from the two main parishes get underway, fires are lit on the battlements at sunset and a chorus sings hymns. This year, choral work by a modern Greek composer was performed.

A large cross was erected in the port’s entrance with wire and adorned with lanterns, adding to the atmospherics of the event.

After a sermon by the local bishop, the processions departed from the port for their respective parishes around 10 p.m. and fireworks lit up the sky.

A city official said attendance was significantly higher this year, with many visitors coming to watch the procession, in addition to a significant portion of Nafpaktos’ 25,000 residents.

Nellas reported from Athens, Greece.

It was once a center of Islamic learning. Now Mali's historic city of Djenné mourns lack of visitors

2024-05-18 13:04 Last Updated At：13:11

DJENNE, Mali (AP) — Kola Bah used to earn a living as a tour guide in Mali's historic city of Djenné, once a center of Islamic learning known for the sprawling mud-brick mosque that has been on the UNESCO World Heritage in Danger list since 2016.

The Grand Mosque of Djenné — the world’s largest mud-brick building — used to draw tens of thousands of tourists to central Mali every year. Now it's threatened by conflict between jihadi rebels, government forces and other groups.

Bah says his income was enough to support his family, which now numbers nine children, and to pay for a small herd of cattle. But these days, few visitors come to the city, and he has been largely out of work. When he needs cash, he sells some of his cattle.

Speaking to The Associated Press outside his home in Djenné's old town, Bah said locals believed the crisis would come to an end eventually, and that business would pick up as before.

“But the more time passed, the more this dream proved illusory,” he said. “Things are really difficult now.”

Djenné is one of the oldest towns in sub-Saharan Africa and served as a market center and an important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade. Almost 2,000 of its traditional houses still survive in the old town.

The Grand Mosque, built in 1907 on the site of an older mosque dating back to the 13th century, is re-plastered every year by local residents in a ritual that brings together the entire city. The towering, earth-colored structure requires a new layer of mud before the rainy season starts, or it would fall into disrepair.

Women are responsible for carrying water from the nearby river to mix with clay and rice hulls to make the mud used to plaster the mosque. Adding the new layer of mud is a job reserved for men. The joyful ritual is a source of pride for a city that has fallen on hard times, uniting people of all ages.

Bamouyi Trao Traoré, one of Djenné’s lead masons, says they work as a team from the very start. This year's replastering took place earlier this month.

“Each one of us goes to a certain spot to supervise,” he said. “This is how we do it until the whole thing is done. We organize ourselves, we supervise the younger ones.”

Mali’s conflict erupted following a coup in 2012 that created a power vacuum, allowing jihadi groups to seize control of key northern cities. A French-led military operation pushed them out of the urban centers the following year, but the success was short-lived.

The jihadis regrouped and launched relentless attacks on the Malian military, as well as the United Nations, French and regional forces in the country. The militants proclaimed allegiance to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Sidi Keita, the director of Mali’s national tourism agency in the capital of Bamako, says the drop in tourism was sharp following the violence.

“It was really a popular destination," he said, describing tens of thousands of visitors a year and adding that today, tourists are “virtually absent from Mali.”.

Despite being one of Africa’s top gold producers, Mali ranks among the least developed nations in the world, with almost half of its 22 million people living below the national poverty line. With the tourism industry all but gone, there are ever fewer means for Malians to make a living.

Anger and frustration over what many Malians call “the crisis” is rising. The country also saw two more coups since 2020, during a wave of political instability in West and Central Africa.

Col. Assimi Goita, who took charge in Mali after a second coup in 2021, expelled French forces the following year, and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance. He also ordered the U.N. to ended its 10-year peacekeeping mission in Mali the following year.

Goita has promised to beat back the armed groups, but the U.N. and other analysts say the government is rapidly losing ground to militants. With Mali's dire economic situation getting worse, Goita's ruling junta ordered all political activities to stop last month, and the following day barred the media from reporting on political activities.

Moussa Moriba Diakité, head of Djenne’s cultural mission which strives to preserve the city’s heritage, said there are other challenges beyond security — including illegal excavations and trash disposal in the city.

The mission is trying to promote the message that security isn’t as bad is it seems, he said, and also get more young people involved in the replastering ritual, to help the new generation recognize its importance.

“It's not easy to get people to understand the benefits of preserving cultural heritage right away,” he said.

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

AP PHOTOS: Greek Orthodox mark Good Friday with solemn bier processions

News

AP PHOTOS: Greek Orthodox mark Good Friday with solemn bier processions

NAFPAKTOS, Greece (AP) — The procession of “Epitaphios," symbolizing the bier that carried the body of Jesus to his grave, took place across Greece on Friday, which was Good Friday in the Orthodox Christian calendar.

NAFPAKTOS, Greece (AP) — The procession of “Epitaphios," symbolizing the bier that carried the body of Jesus to his grave, took place across Greece on Friday, which was Good Friday in the Orthodox Christian calendar.

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