St.Theodore's massacre
On the 12th of May we celebrate St. Theodore.
Once upon a time on the eve of the day there used to be a huge celebration, and people would come from all over the island to join in. In the evening sales men would arrive and spread their goods under the trees. They brought farming products, tools and home made produce, and even animals, on which they would stick a flower to show that the animal was for sale. Mini “tavernas” were set up under the trees and the roasts would soon be sizzling on the spit. The crowd would dance and have a general good time till the morning hours. In the morning the priest would bring the Saint’s remnants out of the church to bless the people.
The following event took place at the time of the pirates. At the time there was a political party of lords living in Hora and ruling the land. The people were poor and they often suffered. On St. Theodore’s day the lords had given the usual order that the blessings were not to take place without them. However this particular time they were very late arriving, the day was getting on and the people were restless. The priest Galatakos therefore decided not to postpone the ceremony any longer, and proceeded to do the honours. In the middle of the service the lords appeared on their horses, their weapons shining in the sun. Their leader, having scolded the priest for not waiting for them, dismounted from his horse and kissed the priest’s lovely wife. Shocked, her husband called to his flock: “For the love of God Christian people, aid me!”
There followed a battle, as the people, happy of the excuse, proceeded to arm themselves with the tools from the stalls and chase the lords down the mountain side. One of the lords was murdered a little way off, the others tried to find shelter with friends in Pitsinades, and the leader crawled into an oven to escape his fate. One dragged himself half dead for most of the night and his body was found the following morning by his wife’s sister in her cabbages.
There followed heavy retribution from the lords and a few people had to leave the island to escape.
