Easter in the Orthodox Christian Church

April 18, 2008 10:06 am

— Beginning Saturday, 300 million Eastern Orthodox Christians will celebrate the Holy Week of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. For the first time, St. James Orthodox Christian Church, located at 1008 S. Main Street in Stillwater, will celebrate the services of this solemn and festive season. The community of St. James cordially invites all to visit and share in the moving services of this holy week. Following are some answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Orthodox Christian preparation for and celebration of Easter.
Why do Orthodox Christians call Easter Pascha?
In the Aramaic language, spoken by Christ, paskha (closely related to the Hebrew pesakh, ‘Passover’ in both languages) refers not only to the exodos from Egypt and the festival commemorating it, but also the lamb whose blood spared Israel from pharaoh’s destruction and who (theoretically) is still slaughtered each year for the seder meal.
Why don’t Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter with other Christians?
The First Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church in 325 AD in Nicea decreed that Pascha be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. This was consistent with the Jewish practice of celebrating Passover on the night of the full moon in the month of Nissan-Aviv.
What is Lazarus Saturday?
The services of Lazarus Saturday have two main themes: Baptism and rebirth to everlasting life in Jesus Christ. Rebirth in Baptism coincides with the raising of Lazarus because Christ restores life to a man four days dead, a sign of His authority over life and death.
What are the services of welcoming the Bridegroom?
Beginning on the evening of Palm Sunday, the church celebrates for three nights the service of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
What are the services of anointing on Holy Wednesday?
On Holy Wednesday, Orthodox Christians remember the anointing of Jesus in the home of Simon the Leper at Bethany (Mark 14:3-9).
What is Holy Thursday?
Thursday is the day on which Orthodox Christians commemorate Jesus’ ‘last supper’ with His disciples, His washing of their feet, His “new commandment” to love one other as He loves us and His inauguration of the New Covenant in His blood.
What are Great and Holy Friday services and why are some on Thursday?
Because the next day for Orthodox Christians begins with evening Vespers on the previous day, the first Holy Friday service is the 12 Passion Gospels, held at Vespers on Holy Thursday evening.
On Holy Friday, the 3 p.m. Great Vespers service directs the attention of Orthodox Christians to the awful and awesome sufferings endured for our sake by the immortal Son of God.
The evening Lamentations service of Great and Holy Friday is actually the first service of Holy Saturday. This service is sometimes called the “Un-nailing” or “The Descent from the Cross” because, in many places, there is a liturgical reenactment of the event.
Why do you grieve on Holy Saturday morning but celebrate at night? Several events are commemorated on Holy Saturday morning: Christ’s burial, His proclaiming salvation to the prisoners of Hades (1 Peter 3:18-21) and His repose after completing the work of salvation. At the end of morning service, the shroud (epitaphion) bearing the image of the dead Christ is reverently taken up from its bier.
At midnight (usually beginning around 10:30) on Holy Saturday Orthodox Christians return to the tomb with the women (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1-18).
Lazarus Saturday (April 19): 9 a.m. Baptism; 10 a.m. Liturgy On this day, the church celebrates Jesus’ raising of Lazarus.
Palm Sunday (April 20): 9:30 a.m. Orthros (Matins) 10:30 a.m. Liturgy. Jesus makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Bridegroom services, 6:30 p.m. (April 20, 21, 22). Services focus on Jesus as bridegroom of the church (see Matthew 25:1-13). Sunday: Genesis 37-50 and Matthew 21:18-20. Monday: Matthew 25:1-3 and Matthew 25:14-30. Tuesday: Sinful woman anoints Jesus (Matthew 26:6-13) and Judas betrays him
Holy Unction, April 23, 6:30 p.m. This service, founded on seven epistle and seven gospel texts, anoints the faithful for healing, comfort and consolation.
Great Thursday, April 24, 9:30 a.m. Liturgy, 6:30 p.m. 12 gospels. Services focus on origins of the Holy Eucharist in the Last Supper
Great Friday (April 25), 3 p.m. Great Vespers, 6:30 p.m. Lamentations Christ’s obedience unto death and burial.
Great and Holy Saturday, 9 a.m. Liturgy, 10:30 p.m. Rush Service and Pascha Liturgy.쇓