Anyone who visits the city of Arta during Easter will experience the unfolding of the Epirus identity through church services and popular customs.

On Holy Thursday, outside the Church of Saint Theodora, the “Great Fire” is revived; the youth of the parish gather wood and, after the Crucifixion service, light the large structure in a symbolic act of “breath” or renewal.

Also on Holy Thursday, the painting of eggs takes place in the square of Saint Nicholas — a unique custom that highlights the transition from prayer to joy.

On Holy Saturday, with the First Resurrection, clay pots (“limpes”) are broken to drive away evil; and during the procession of the Epitaph, the bells and chants fill the neighborhoods, in a path of devotion and collective remembrance.

A thin veil of collective devotion permeates Arta on “Good Friday.” The tolling of the bells at the imposing Holy Church of Saint Theodora and at the city’s churches grips the heart — a symbol of mourning and anticipation.

In the afternoon, the climax comes with the traditional procession of the epitaphs, where the epitaphs of all the parishes gather and cross the pedestrian street of Skoufa, illuminated by the candles of hope.

Next, the epitaphs of Faneromeni and Taxiarches follow their “solitary” procession through the neighborhoods of the upper town — a quiet and deeply personal moment. The adorned “petalo-petalo” of the epitaph, the silence broken by the hymns, and our emotion blend harmoniously with the city’s folk tradition.

The radiant night of Saint Theodora in the city of Arta is “dressed” in flames on the evening of Holy Thursday; in the courtyard of the church, a great fire is lit — the result of the collective preparation of the parishioners, who have been gathering logs for months.

The custom brings to light the profound symbol of the night before the arrest of Jesus: the fires lit by the disciples, the anticipation of judgment, the shadow of betrayal.

Amid the devout atmosphere, as soon as the sixth Gospel is read, the flame rises in the square; locals and visitors gather to become part of this ancient tradition that endures through time.

The custom of “Lazaroudia” in the Rodavgi area of Arta highlights the vitality of local tradition. On Lazarus Saturday, children, organized in small groups, carefully decorate little baskets filled with flowers.

Then they take to the village streets, ringing kyprous (bells) and holding the characteristic stick called skopi, singing “Kalos sas evr’ o Lazaros…” (“Lazarus has come to you…”) outside the doors of the houses.

The hosts reciprocate with eggs, sweets, candies, or small offerings — a customary act of hospitality and joyful play. The revival of this tradition, which was recently included in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, serves as a bridge between generations and reminds everyone of the enduring value of community and culture.

On the night of the Resurrection, in the courtyard of the lit-up church of Agia Theodora in the city of Arta, after "Christ is Risen," the custom of burning Judas comes to life.

Young people of the parish construct the effigy of the traitor, hang it on a makeshift gallows, and, with the smashing of earthenware pots and the release of colorful bright balloons into the sky, they send "to the fire" everything that the Holy Week has left behind.

The flame in the straw and the wood, the silent intensity of the moment, the collective breath of the attendees, make it a traditional symbolism of purification and rebirth for the community of Arta.

Every year, at the end of September, the city of Arta comes alive with the institution of the trade fair, which is linked to the major event of the Panhellenic Exhibition & Trade Fair of Arta.

From September 27th to early October, thousands of visitors from all over Epirus and Western Greece arrive at the bazaar of Arta for shopping, socializing, and a festive atmosphere.

The tradition of the institution has deep roots: in the past, the trade fairs in Arta took place in flat locations, featuring animals, merchants, and spectacles — a vivid picture of the social and economic life of the region.