In matters of religion alone, their connection with Venice appears to have had little influence on the people of Zante. Their adherence to the Greek church is rigidly maintained; and though the Catholic worship is tolerated, and there is a Catholic establishment in the island: yet, it is obvious, that the feelings of the Greeks towards their brethren of the Latin church are by no means of a cordial kind.
I had the opportunity of marking this at a public dinner in the city, where the resident heads of the two churches were present, and where different toasts were given, that called forth some sentiment on the subject. The superior of the Grefek church in Zante is the Protopapas Garrer,—a venerable and pleasing old man,— who, in his office, is subordinate to a bishop, resident in Cephalonia. In the exercise of their religion, the people of die isles, not fettered like the Greeks of the continent, indulge themselves in all its exterior ceremonies; on a much smaller scale, indeed, than those of Catholic countries, but equally numerous and laboured in their details. In the early part of 1813, I was at Zante during a part of the carnival, and witnessed many of the processions, street-masquerades, &c. which take place during this time. A more pleasing spectacle was the festival of All Saints, in the spring of the same year; celebrated among the olive-groves near the city; where half the population of the place was assembled in their best dresses, some walking, some dancing, others playing on the guitar, or forming a part in the religious processions ; and various groupes dining under the shade of the olive trees, according to the custom of the day. I was in Zante also on Easter Sunday, the observance of which is rendered interesting by the interchange of visits, salutations, and paste-eggs, which takes place among all the inhabitants. Every greeting on this day is accompanied by the expression of Χριστὸς ἀνέστη; and there is a friendly and a common intercourse of all, well adapted to the occasion which calls it forth.
