Greece rocket war

It’s pure rocket science, and residents of this Greek island village love it.

While church bells ring in Orthodox Easter, thousands of homemade rockets streak across the night sky of Chios as rival Vrontados parishioners target each other’s church towers in a traditional, once-a-year mock war.

Incredibly, severe injuries are rare and dozens of brave souls even attend late-night services inside the churches of Aghios Markos and Panaghia Erithiani, which together with surrounding homes are ringed in defensive veils of chicken wire. Police keep a discreet distance as hundreds of people man batteries of wooden rocket launchers, awaiting the air raid siren that marks the start of hostilities.

Although small firework displays are held at churches around the country at midnight services on Easter Saturday despite official disapproval from Church officials  Vrontados is in a league of its own, drawing spectators from all over Greece and abroad. The custom dates back to the 19thcentury, when the island was under Turkish occupation, but may have older roots.

Preparations last all year, while on the Saturday morning participants parade their hardware through the village in lorries, honking their horns. Easter is the most important part of the Orthodox religious calendar.

Greece Rocket Science

A boy wearing a Superman came walks along a wooden platform built to house the launching pads for the rockets on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Spectators wait the start of the rocket war on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Men ignite rockets during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Five- years- old Yorgos places rockets on wooden launchers during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Men ignite rockets on a wooden platform during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Eastern

Firework rockets target Panagia Erithiani church during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados.(AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

A man launches a rocket during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

A young woman cover her face to avoid smoke during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Young men ignite rockets during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

A man inspects rockets on wooden launchers during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Hundrents of rockets target the Agios Markos church during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Sparks fly from a rocket that's fallen into Panagia Erithiani church pebble contyard during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Spectators look on rockets on the sky during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Rockets fly above Panagia Erithiani church during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Men ignite rockets during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Rockets fell on the courtyard of Panagia Erithiani church during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

A couple with candles leave Panagia Erithiani church as rockets fall on the background during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

The remains of hundred of rockets lie at the courtyard of Agios Markos church after the end of Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

Greece Rocket Science

Masked men stand amidst smoke during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late Saturday, April 11, 2015. Thousands of handmade rockets are fired every year on Great Saturday night, before the Resurrection, by locals of the two rival churches of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, in the village of Vrontados. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris)

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Follow Petros Giannakouris | Twitter: @PGiannakouris Instagram: @petros_giannakouris

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