What are the practices of the Orthodox Church during the Easter Season? Let’s examine Pascha, the Divine Liturgy, Odes, and the Paschal Hours. This article provides an overview of the Orthodox Church’s most important Easter events. After you’ve read this article, you’ll be able to understand the significance of these special occasions and how they relate to your own beliefs. And as an added bonus, you’ll have the opportunity to meet some of the church’s most prominent leaders.
Pascha
Eastern and Western churches observe Pascha differently. Since the First Ecumenical Council, which was held in 1582, the Western Church adopted the Gregorian Calendar and changed its calculation of Pascha. The Orthodox Church, on the other hand, follows the Julian Calendar which was in use at the time of the First Ecumenical Council. As a result, the date of Pascha in the Orthodox Church is thirteen days earlier than the Western Church’s.
The celebration of Easter at the Orthodox Church is a joyful one. At the Pascha Liturgy, the congregation hears the traditional hymn “Christ is risen”. After the service, red-dyed eggs are distributed to children. They are colored red to represent the blood of Christ. In early civilizations, the Easter egg was a symbol connected with spring fertility rituals. It is also used as a representation of the Lamb, who was accompanied by a banner displaying the cross.
Paschal Hours
Orthodox Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ during the Paschal Hours. The services are held daily and reflect on the events that took place after the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. On these days, there is a great deal of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, study, and reflection. Following these services, the church celebrates the Resurrection ceremony. It is also a time of fellowship, with church services and communion being held in different locations throughout the world.
On Holy Saturday, the Midnight Office is held in a darkened church. The shroud is removed from the tomb and placed on the altar, where it will remain for forty days. The faithful sing the troparion (resurrection) of the Resurrection, which is performed in Tone 2. The church is then completely dark. During the Paschal Hours, people should be aware of their surroundings, and keep candles lit upright.
Paschal Divine Liturgy
During the Paschal Divine Liturgy, the priest prepares by praying and putting on the special vestments of his ministry. Before the Divine Liturgy, the priest prepares the bread and wine for the service. The priest prepares these elements with the help of members of the congregation, and the names of the faithful who are to be remembered are placed on them. Then, the priest blesses them.
The Divine Liturgy is celebrated in two parts: the Liturgy of the Faithful and the Liturgy of the Catechumens. The prayers of these liturgies differ. Saints did not write the liturgy, but they may have contributed prayers. The prayers and actions of the Liturgy reveal the main meaning of this holy celebration. It is a highly reverent ritual.
Odes
The orthodox church uses several hymns to commemorate the resurrection of Christ. The Epitaphios, a cloth icon that represents the winding sheet in which the body of Christ was encased before its burial, is carried into the center of the church and venerated by the faithful. The hymn “The Paschal Lamb” is an important part of the litany and is chanted during Vespers on Wednesday afternoon. This service is preceded by anticipation of the morning service.
The most important part of the Orthodox church’s calendar is Easter, which is celebrated in the form of movable feasts and celebrations to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The spiritual preparations for Easter begin with Great Lent, a forty-day period of fasting and self-examination. The Lenten fast culminates on Lazarus Saturday. These days are known as Paschal Hours.
Traditional Easter eggs
For centuries, Christians have celebrated the Easter holiday with traditional foods and services. The Orthodox church is no exception, with a tradition of dyeing eggs bright red for the Paschal celebration. Eggs are also decorated, with Greek hard-boiled eggs dyed bright red. In Romania and Ukraine, hollowed-out eggs are painted with traditional designs and colors using a wax-resist technique. Eggs are adorned with religious images, and Easter celebrations are usually accompanied by games and food.
The tradition of Easter eggs dates back to pagan times. While it may be strange to have a feast that celebrates eggs during Lent, the eggs themselves are a great symbol of the resurrection. The egg’s shell resembles the tomb and the gates of hell, and the yolk holds new life inside. The egg was used as a symbol of Christ rising from the dead and defeating death. As such, the egg is symbolic of the Resurrection of Christ, and the empty tomb.
Coptic Easter
The celebrations of Coptic Easter are reminiscent of ancient Egyptian tradition. Coptic Easter traditionally began with Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. People carry palms through the streets to represent the palms thrown at his feet as he rode through Jerusalem. The Coptic Easter prayer is often recited in Coptic, with all Egyptian Christians familiar with the words. However, this tradition is in decline due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Coptic Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar to determine its celebrations. Because of this, Easter and Christmas are observed on the Sunday following the vernal equinox. This makes them one of the two most important holy days for Christians in Egypt. The other important holiday, Coptic Christmas, is on Jan. 7th. These feasts are celebrated in a special manner and are often marked by festivities that are unique to the Coptic faith.
