Orthodox Easter

Customs, Traditions and Foods of Orthodox Easter

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide

See More About:

Greek Easter Pastry

Photo: PhotoLink / Getty Images

Easter season is the most significant and sacred time of the Orthodox Church calendar. Orthodox Easter consists of a series of celebrations (movable feasts) commemorating the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the spiritual preparations begin with Great Lent, a 40-day period of self-examination and fasting (including Sundays), which starts on Clean Monday and culminates on Lazarus Saturday. Clean Monday falls seven weeks before Easter Sunday. The term "Clean Monday" refers to a cleansing from sinful attitudes through the Lenten fast. Lazarus Saturday occurs eight days before Easter Sunday and signifies the end of Great Lent.

Next comes Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, commemorating the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, followed by Holy Week, which ends on Easter Sunday, or Pascha.

Fasting continues throughout Holy Week. Many Orthodox churches observe a Paschal Vigil which ends just before midnight on Holy Saturday (or Great Saturday), the last day of Holy Week on the evening before Easter. Immediately following the vigil, Easter festivities begin with Paschal Matins, Paschal Hours, and the Paschal Divine Liturgy. Paschal Matins is an early morning prayer service or part of an all-night prayer vigil. Paschal Hours is a brief, chanted prayer service, reflecting the joy of Easter. And Paschal Divine Liturgy is a communion or Eucharist service. These are the first celebrations of Christ's resurrection and are considered the most important services of the ecclesiastical year.

After the Eucharist service, the fast is broken and the feasting begins. For more about Easter and Great Lent:

• What is Easter?
• More About Great Lent

Dating Orthodox Easter

This year, Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday, April 15, 2012.

To gain a better understanding of why the date of Easter changes every year and why Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter on a different day than Western churches, visit:

• Why Does the Date for Easter Change Every Year?
• More Orthodox Easter Dates

Traditional Orthodox Easter Greeting

It is customary among Orthodox Christians to greet one another during Easter season with the Paschal greeting. The salutation begins with the phrase, "Christ is Risen!" The response is "Truly, He is Risen!"

Traditional Orthodox Easter Hymn

This same phrase, "Christos Anesti," (in Greek) is the title of a traditional Orthodox Easter hymn sung during Easter services in celebration of Jesus Christ’s glorious resurrection. Enhance your Easter worship with these words to the treasured Easter hymn, in the Greek language, including the transliteration, and words in English:

• Orthodox Easter Hymn - "Christos Anesti"

Red Easter Eggs

In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are a symbol of new life. Early Christians used eggs to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the regeneration of believers. At Easter, eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for the redemption of all men.

• Learn How To Dye Red Easter Eggs

Greek Orthodox Foods

Greek Orthodox Christians traditionally break the Lenten fast after the midnight Resurrection Service. Customary foods are lamb and Tsoureki Paschalino, a sweet Easter dessert bread.

• Greek Orthodox Easter Foods
• Greek Recipes for Easter Lamb

Serbian Orthodox Foods

After Easter Sunday services, Serbian Orthodox families traditionally begin the feasting with appetizers of smoked meats and cheeses, boiled eggs and red wine. The meal consists of chicken noodle or lamb vegetable soup followed by spit-roasted lamb.

• Serbian Orthodox Easter Traditions
• Serbian Easter Menu

Russian Orthodox Foods

Holy Saturday is a day of strict fasting for Russian Orthodox Christians while families stay busy making preparations for the Easter meal. Usually the Lenten fast is broken after the midnight mass with traditional Paskha Easter bread cake.

• Russian Easter Bread Recipe
• Russian Easter Cheese Dessert Recipe