Annual ‘rocket war’ between parishes on Chios island for Orthodox Easter again commemorated

The annual “rocket war” between competing congregants of two cathedrals in the village of Vrontados, on the eastern Aegean Island of Chios (Hios), held at midnight on Orthodox Great Saturday leading into Orthodox Easter Sunday, this year was filmed by the MSG company, with the intent of being shown at the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas this autumn.

The tradition, dating to the 19th century Ottoman occupation of the island, entails the firing of the firing thousands of homemade rockets towards either church by congregants of the other, in this case, the Panaghia of Erithiani (Our Lady of Erithiani) and St. Markos.

The “rocketeers” of the Panaghia (Virgin Mary) parish attempt to hit the dome and emblem of St. Markos (Mark), while the latter attempt to hit the clock on the bell tower of the former.