Orthodox Christians observe Easter Sunday as part of their religious practice. The reason for this is quite simple, they believe that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, and this is the day that they celebrate this event. However, the date on which they commemorate this event may vary from one Orthodox group to another. This article will explore some of the main aspects of the Easter festival, including the early observances and the food that is celebrated on the holiday.
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Early observances
The Easter celebration is among the oldest of all Christian festivals. It is a festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death. This is considered the holiest day of the year in Christianity.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date than Western Christians. The date of Easter can be anywhere between April 4 and May 8. Some Orthodox churches hold vigils before Easter or on Holy Saturday.
Usually, the Easter celebrations take place on a Sunday, after a feast. However, it can be celebrated on a Friday if the church feels like doing so. During the celebration, people eat hard boiled eggs and roasted lamb.
In Eastern Orthodox churches, Easter begins with the Paschal Divine Liturgy, a communion service. These services are held on the first Sunday after the first full moon after Passover, which is usually about six days after the spring equinox.
Later date than Catholics
Orthodox Christians observe Easter later than most western Christians. Easter Sunday is usually celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon after the Spring Equinox. However, this may vary from year to year, and sometimes orthodox Easter falls on the same day as Western Easter.
The date of Easter was traditionally determined by the early Christian church. Although there was some disagreement about the exact date, most agreed that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the full moon after Passover.
In the 16th century, Pope Gregory XIII instituted the Gregorian calendar. This new calendar re-calibrated the Julian calendar to fix several errors. Today, the Gregorian calendar is used by most Christian churches to determine their Easter dates.
Food
Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date than Western Christian denominations. While many Western Christians have adopted the Gregorian calendar, the Eastern church follows the Julian calendar.
Orthodox Easter is celebrated in a number of countries around the world. The Orthodox Christian tradition of celebrating Easter begins with 40 days of fasting and reflection, known as the Great Lent. This period is a time of reflection and penance. During the 40 days, the Christian worshiper is drawn closer to God.
During the Lenten season, the church holds liturgies that retell the story of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. On Easter Sunday, the church celebrates the resurrected Lord.
Orthodox Christians use a Julian calendar to calculate the dates of major holidays. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Julian calendar is based on the Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Observance of the Paschal Divine Liturgy
Easter Sunday is celebrated in the Orthodox Church as the day of Christ’s Resurrection. It is a major feast, celebrated by many Eastern Orthodox churches. The Paschal Divine Liturgy is the most important liturgical event of the year.
In addition to the Easter Liturgy, there are other liturgical services that are observed on different days of the year. One of the most important is the Easter Vigil, which is held before midnight on Holy Saturday.
There are four main parts of the vigil in the Roman Catholic tradition. They are the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, Easter Mass, the sacramental administration to converts and the celebration of lights. Each of these elements has a specific role to play during the observance.
Observance of the Midnight Office
The observance of the Midnight Office on Easter Sunday is a tradition within the Eastern Orthodox Church. It marks the beginning of a shortened version of the traditional Easter weekend.
For many Christians, this aforementioned Midnight Office is an important part of their Easter celebration. The liturgy has a number of perks, such as a full-scale reading of the Old Testament lessons, a re-lighting of the Paschal candle, and an awe-inspiring Easter fire. Moreover, the Midnight Office is the only way to ensure that the next day’s Divine Liturgy will be in order.
Another nifty Easter-related feature is the sunrise service, a rite that took place in Herrnhut, Saxony in 1732. During the service, the gospel account of women coming to the tomb at dawn is retold.
