Photographed in Olympos, Karpathos, this black and white image captures a moment during the Easter litany of the village.
Two men stand side by side, each holding an icon directly in front of their face. Their bodies remain visible, but their identities are concealed behind the sacred images. The gesture is deliberate and consistent with the movement of the procession.
The icons dominate the upper part of the frame, richly detailed and framed by embroidered fabrics. Their presence replaces the human face, shifting attention from the individual to the symbolic.
The setting is the village square, defined by stone surfaces and simple architectural elements. The space remains secondary, allowing the action and the objects to define the scene.
The composition is frontal and direct. The figures align on the same plane, reinforcing the sense of repetition and order within the ritual.
This moment reflects the structure of the litany, where individual presence gives way to collective expression through shared symbols.
This image is part of Ethos, a long-term body of work documenting traditional rituals and cultural expressions across Greece.
Museum-quality black and white photography print by George Tatakis, produced on Hahnemühle Baryta Photo Rag 315gsm using archival pigment inks. Open edition, with signed and framed options. Each print is house-stamped on the reverse.
