Whether you’re Greek or not, you can still visit a Greek Orthodox Church. Despite what you may have heard, there are actually several different ways to celebrate the Orthodox faith. Here are a few of them.
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Communion is the body and blood of Christ
During the Eucharist, bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. During the communion service, Christians are reminded of the miracle of Christ’s death and are given the spiritual benefits of his body and blood. The Eucharist is a foretaste of the feast to come, when the Kingdom of God is fully established.
The Holy Bible says that Christ is present in many ways, including in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. The presence of Christ is also referred to as the Holy Spirit.
The question is: How does the presence of Christ in the Eucharist compare to the presence of the Holy Spirit? In general, the Church of England refuses to define the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, preferring to leave the mystery to the faithful.
Easter falls later in the Eastern Orthodox world
Historically, Easter falls later in the Eastern Orthodox world than it does in Western Christianity. It falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, or Spring Equinox.
In the Eastern Orthodox world, Easter dates are determined using the Julian calendar. It is also called Pascha, and is a day commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a religious festival celebrated by millions of Orthodox Christians around the world.
It has a similar meaning to Protestant and Catholic Easter. On Easter Sunday, people attend church services and take part in a festive feast. Traditionally, there is a lamb served as the main dish. Hard-boiled eggs are also common. Some homes serve chick peas covered in sugar, and sweet almonds.
Easter is a gift of hospitality and of growing unity
Despite the controversies, many have noted that Easter is a time to be cherished. While not all churches are unified in their worship and celebrations, the spirit of sharing, learning and growing is evident throughout the Christian community.
In addition to celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, Easter is also a time to remember the crucifixion of Christ. While there are many commemorative rites and ceremonies, there is no official calendar governing these events. As such, many churches celebrate a few events in parallel, as well as several others in their own time and style.
The blessed bread (antidoron) is a gift of hospitality and of growing unity
During the Liturgy, the Church presents the Blessed Bread (antidoron) to the faithful in place of the gifts. It is a symbol of the Eucharist as the Body of Christ. It is also a sign of hospitality and of the growing unity of the Church.
In the ancient Church, the best time to consume the antidoron was during the All Night Vigil. But this practice was dropped in the fourth century. The holy antidoron is now raised during the anaphora and the eulogia. It was also a symbol of agape meals.
Epitaphios
During Holy Week, the Greek Orthodox Church commemorates the death of Jesus Christ. During this time, Christians ponder on what led up to His crucifixion.
In the church, an icon called Epitaphios is displayed. It is a large, ornate, embroidered, cloth icon of the body of Jesus. The icon can depict the body of Christ alone, or flanked by angels. Typically, the icon is topped with an elaborately carved wood canopy. The canopy is often decorated with flowers and candles.
Before the procession, the icon is censed by a priest. It is placed on a canopied platform and carried by four or six people. The priest also sprinkles the icon with rose water.
Tsoureki
Whether you are Greek or not, Easter is a very special time to celebrate. It is the time when you can spend quality time with family and friends. You can also indulge in delicious foods. Tsoureki is a popular Easter bread. It is a sweet bread with egg in the centre. You can make your own Tsoureki from scratch or you can buy one from a Greek bakery.
Tsoureki is made with milk, butter and eggs. It is then shaped and baked. You can buy Tsoureki in many different varieties. Some have a red egg baked into the middle.
Eastern Orthodox vs Oriental Orthodox
Among Eastern Orthodox vs Oriental Orthodox churches in Greece, the two differ mainly in their theology and liturgy. The main difference is that Eastern Orthodox churches follow a miaphysite formula, which argues that the divine and human natures of Christ are united. This is in contrast to the emphasis on human sinfulness in Western churches.
The first three Ecumenical Councils have been accepted by both families. However, the Oriental Orthodox have rejected the Council of Chalcedon. They also do not accept the Fourth Ecumenical Council and the Seventh Ecumenical Council. These councils teach the veneration of icons, which is a tradition that Oriental Orthodox have continued.
