그리스 브론타도스 마을의 부활절 맞이 로켓 전쟁: The Vrontados Rocket War

Every year, during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations, members of rival churches sitting across a small valley stage a traditional "rocket war" by firing thousands of homemade rockets towards each other while services are held in the Greek village of Vrontados. The objective for each side is to strike the bell of the opposing church. The festival, called Rouketopolemos, has been celebrated by the churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani for at least 125 years. Below are images of this rocket war from the past few years.

• Homemade rockets streak through the sky during a traditional Easter celebration in the village of Vrontados, on the Greek island of Chios, late on April 19, 2014. As a variation of the Greek custom of throwing fireworks during the celebration of the Orthodox service at midnight before Easter Sunday, two rival church parishes in the town, the Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani churches, perform a "Rocket War" by firing thousands of homemade rockets towards each other while services are held. 

  Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images
  
  

• Yannis, left, and Stavros, right, load handmade rockets on a truck, in front of Agios Markos church, on April 19, 2014, as part of the Easter celebrations that take place on the island. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Rockets are arranged before being fired during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the island of Chios on April 19, 2014. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  Easter Rockets on Chios island, Greece
  
  
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• A participant fires a rocket toward the Panagia Erithiani church, from a launching platform during a traditional Easter celebration in the village of Vrontados, on April 19, 2014. 

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• A man ignites rockets during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the island of Chios on April 19, 2014. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Hundreds of rockets target the Agios Markos church during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the island of Chios, Greece, on April 11, 2015. 

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• Rockets fly towards the church of Ayios Markos during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations in the village of Vrontados on April 19, 2014. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Men ignite rockets during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the island of Chios, Greece, on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Rockets fly over the bell tower of Panagia Erithiani church in the village of Vrontados on April 19, 2014. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Rockets fall onto the courtyard of Panagia Erithiani church in the village of Vrontados on April 11, 2015. 

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• Rockets fly over bell tower of Ayios Marcos church during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations in the village of Vrontados on April 26, 2008. 

  Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters
  
  

• Rockets fly over the church of Ayios Marcos as worshipers hold candles during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the island of Chios on April 19, 2014. 

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• Sparks fly from a fallen handmade rocket onto the courtyard of Panagia Erithiani church during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• A man ignites rockets during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Rockets fly over Panagia Erithiani church in the village of Vrontados on April 11, 2015. Note the crowd sheltering below the church. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Young men ignite rockets during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations in the village of Vrontados on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• A young woman covers her face to avoid smoke from handmade rockets during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the island of Chios, Greece, on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Firework rockets target Panagia Erithiani church during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Participants ignite homemade rockets in the village of Vrontados on April 19, 2014. 

  Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images
  
  

• Men ignite rockets on a wooden platform in the village of Vrontados on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Rockets streak through the sky during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the island of Chios on May 1, 2005. 

  Yannis Behrakis/Reuters
  
  

• A couple with candles leaves Panagia Erithiani church as rockets fall during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• Spectators watch rockets light up the sky during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the island of Chios on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP
  
  

• The aftermath: The remnants of hundreds of handmade rockets lie in the courtyard of Agios Markos church at the end of the Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on April 11, 2015. 

  Petros Giannakouris/AP