Program 789: Easter in Greece; Pillars of Europe; Easter in Andalucía

It's the biggest holiday of the year in Greece, and in the Andalucía region of southern Spain.

So on the next Travel with Rick Steves, we'll learn about the customs that Orthodox Greeks are expected to observe for Easter.

And a guide from Seville tells us how the traditions of Semana Santa add meaning to the week leading up to Easter in Spain.

Plus Ken Follett, the author of dozens of best-selling mysteries set in the Middle Ages, explains how cathedrals served as the centerpiece of medieval towns.

• Tour guide Anastasia Gaitanou, from Thessaloniki, Greece
• Poet Rena Priest
• Ken Follett, author of "The Pillars of the Earth" (Viking)
• Tour guide Concepción Delgado de los Reyes, from Seville, Spain
• Gene Openshaw, co-author of the Rick Steves art guides and "Michelangelo at Midlife"

• Palm Sunday observances from Seville and in Greek Orthodox traditions are included in Rick's "European Easter" TV special, which you can view on our website.
• Anastasia Gaitanou tells us how her name means "resurrection" in Greek, as she guides visitors to reimagine the ancient world at the sites of Greek history and mythology.
• Poet Rena Priest has released a collection from more than 150 poets in Washington state, ranging from first graders to tribal elders, in tribute to salmon. It's called "I Sing the Salmon Home: Poems from Washington State."
• Ken Follett is a top-selling author of thrillers and historical fiction, including the Kingsbridge series, set in medieval England. His novel "The Pillars of the Earth" was made into a TV miniseries, and adapted into a computer game. Ken wrote a tribute to Notre Dame cathedral called "Notre Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals" after it caught fire in 2019. His proceeds from that book are being donated to the cathedral's restoration work.
• Rick notes that historian Malcolm Miller is a specialist interpreter of the stained glass and sculptured figures at Chartres Cathedral in France.
• Ken Follett spoke with Rick about the reopening of Paris' Notre Dame cathedral on Travel with Rick Steves program #775 in December 2024.
• Concepción Delgado de los Reyes provides walking tours of Seville.
• Rick writes about Holy Week observances in Seville.
• Gene Openshaw is the author of "Michelangelo at Midlife: Chasing the Tomb of Julius II," and co-wrote with Rick "Europe's Top 100 Masterpieces: Art for the Traveler."

• "We were staying at the Hotel Maestranza in Seville during Holy Week, and one of the processions, lasting four hours, passed right by the hotel. Five different children who were in the procession came over to me and gave me small pictures of saints." (Dennis in Yucaipa, California)

• Fra Armando Pierucci, organist at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, "Variations on a Theme of the 4th Mode of 'Alleluia,'" De Profundis: The Art of Dying: A Cantata by Father Armando Pierucci / Pilgrims Star
• Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Christopher Parkening, guitar, "'What God Hath Done,' from Cantata 99 (J. S. Bach, adapted by Walton and Ravencroft)," The Great Recordings / EMI Classics
• Choir of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, "'Praise the Name of the Lord' from the 'St. Petersburg Litany,'" Ektenia / Deutsche Grammophon
• Felix Maria Woschek and Ustad Sultan Khan, "Halleluja - a Gregorian chant," Blessings / Woschek Spiritual
• Divna Ljubojevic and the Melodi Choir, "Le christ est ressucitédes morts (Tropaire des Pasques)," Lumieres du chant byzantin / Jade
• Little Wolf Band, "Night Chant," Dream Song / Triloka
• Paul Winter, "On the River," Prayer for the Wild Things / Living Music
• * I Fiamminghi, conducted by Rudolf Werthen, "Summa for SATB Chorus" (Arvo Part), Arvo Part: Fratres / Telarc 
• SEL_SEL_5180_00301_Menuetto_Per_Pietro_APM
• Compagnie Chez Bousca, "J'ai un petit coq," Chants de Quete de la periode de Pâques / Ocora-Radio France
• Monks of the New Camaldolese Hermitage, "Vespers 6," O Day of Resurrection / (self-released) 
• Michel Chapuis, "Gloria de la Messe des Paroisses (Couperin)," Orgues de Provence (collection) / harmonia mundi
• Coeur d'enfants de la Maitrise de Notre Dame de Paris, "Gregorien: Ad te levavi," Musique Sacré a Notre-Dame de Paris (youth choir from Notre-Dame de Paris) / BMG France - RCA Victor Red Seal
• Yves Castagen, "Tambourin," Musique Sacré a Notre-Dame de Paris / BMG France - RCA Victor Red Seal
• Hesperion XXI, La Capella Real de Catalunya, "Guaracha: Ay Que Me Abraso (Zespedes)," Metamorphoses Fidei / Alia Vox
• * The Philharmonia, John Wallace, trumpet, "Sinfonia to 'Il Nome Glorioso' (Albinoni)," Vivaldi Concerti and Baroque Trumpet Music / Nimbus
• SEL_SEL_5180_00301_Menuetto_Per_Pietro_APM
• Hopkinson Smith, Paul O'Dette, "Spagna," Essential Renaissance, disc 2 (collection) / EMI
• Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, "Sevillana," LAGQ Latin / Telarc
• Hesperion XXI, La Capella Real de Catalunya, "Guaracha: Ay Que Me Abraso (Zespedes)," Metamorphoses Fidei / Alia Vox
• Missa Mexicana, Arturo Quezadas, conductor, "Comunión (comp. Jesus Echevarria)," Missa Mexicana, op 172 / Conaculta (Mexico)
• Boston Camerata, Schola Cantorum, and Les Amis de la Sagesse, "Agnus Dei (Gregorian)," Nueva España / Erato
• MYMA_JUST_0186_00901_Prepare_the_Journey_APM
• Vince Guaraldi, "Theme to Grace," The Grace Cathedral Concert / Fantasy Records

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• The Easter holiday is mentioned in this week's billboard and promo. Easter season traditions in Greece and Spain are the theme for most of the discussion in segments A and C.
• Rick notes at the open to segment A that this year, the date for Easter Sunday is the same on both the Western and Eastern Orthodox church calendars. The interviews in segments A and C also discuss religious traditions for Lent and Holy Week, leading up to Easter.
• At 32:01, Rick mentions Ken Follett's "latest work, due to be released in September" is called "Circle of Days."
• Starting at 33:24, Rick mentions learning about the stained-glass windows at Chartres Cathedral from scholar Malcolm Miller.
• In a reset at 45:10, Rick notes that due to the "late date" for Easter this year, the April Fair in Seville will be held the week of May 6.