Korisós: The Lazarines Custom and Agios Georgios

Korisós is shaped by a distinctive spring custom and two clearly distinguishable churches. As part of the Lazarines tradition, girls aged 3 to 15 sing Lazarus songs and carry decorated baskets. The tradition combines specific cultural motifs with a connection to the place: the procession goes around Agios Georgios, accompanied by songs welcoming spring.

The Lazarines Custom in Korisós

On Lazarus Saturday, the streets of Korisós fill with white costumes and joyful voices. Together with the Lazarus songs and decorated baskets, this creates a vivid picture of the custom. Those interested in local traditions will find several aspects that belong together: the girls’ singing, the procession around Agios Georgios, and the songs that welcome spring.

The procession is the highlight of the Lazarines tradition. This means that, alongside the singing, a particular place is also central to the description: Agios Georgios. The tradition can therefore be understood not only through its songs, but also through its connection to this church building in Korisós.

Agios Georgios and the Cemetery Church

The small church of Agios Georgios is considered an important surviving historical monument. It is an example of folk architecture and features folk icons. These characteristics give the building its own character within the cultural landscape of Korisós. The church is also the focal point of the Lazarines procession.

The nearby cemetery church of Agios Georgios is a separate building: it was founded in 1897. The two churches are therefore not one and the same building. Those exploring the historic buildings of Korisós can distinguish the small church from the cemetery church by their different descriptions and histories.

Kastoria as a Wider Travel Destination

The wider travel destination of Kastoria offers additional nature and culture themes. Kastoria is built amphitheatrically on a piece of land surrounded by Lake Orestiada. The Greek Ministry of Culture has classified the lake as a natural monument of particular beauty; it is also included in the European Natura 2000 network for environmental protection. A short circular path around the lake passes plane trees, old mansions, and churches, and offers views of the calm water.

The city’s architectural history and museums also give Kastoria a distinct character. The traditional Papaterpou mansion on Kastoria’s waterfront road dates to 1880. The Tsatsiapa mansion in the Apozari district was built in 1754; it is the city’s only surviving three-storey mansion with a rectangular floor plan and a pronounced horizontal axis.

The Kastoria Folklore Museum is housed in the Nerantzi Aivazi mansion in the traditional Doltso district and depicts the life of an aristocratic family from Kastoria. The Costume Museum, in the Emmanuel brothers’ mansion, also in the Doltso district, displays traditional costumes from all over Greece, including elaborately crafted costumes from Kastoria. Those interested in history can find, among other things, uniforms, photographs, and historical maps at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle; the oldest of the maps mentioned dates from 1550.

Another cultural highlight is Ragoutsaria, held annually in Kastoria on January 6, 7, and 8. By contrast, the Lazarines custom in Korisós is associated with Lazarus Saturday and spring. These different occasions and seasons provide a useful point of reference when considering traditions as a focus for your trip.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first decide which themes you would like to shape your stay: the Lazarines tradition and churches in Korisós, or the lake and museums in the wider Kastoria destination as well. Guide your search by considering whether the local custom or the broader natural and cultural landscape better matches your interests.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Aposkepos, Kato Nestorio, Dispilio, Argos Orestikón, Mesopotamia Aliakmonas, Kleisoura, Kastoria and Áyios Zakharías.

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