The bright Resurrection of Christ

The feast of Easter, or the Holy Resurrection of Christ, is the most important and solemn holiday in the Orthodox Church. Its establishment is connected with the events described in the Gospel, when our Lord Jesus Christ, after His suffering and death on the cross, rose on the third day, conquering death and giving the faithful hope for eternal life.

In the first centuries of Christianity, the celebration of Easter was closely linked to the Jewish Passover, since it was during this Jewish holiday that the Passion of Christ took place. However, over time, Christian Easter acquired its own theological content and rituals, separating from the Jewish tradition.

In the fourth century, the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea (325) determined the procedure for calculating the date of Easter. According to this decision, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox. This procedure for calculating the date of Easter is followed by the Orthodox Church to this day.

The celebration of Easter begins on Holy Saturday, when a special service is held in churches, which turns into the Easter Matins. During this service, the clergy and believers with lighted candles go around the church singing: “Christ is risen from the dead, having conquered death by death, and given life to those in the tombs.”

A special feature of the Easter service is the reading of the Easter message of the Primate of the Church, in which he addresses the faithful with words of joy and hope, calling for spiritual renewal and love for one’s neighbors.

On the days of Easter, the faithful greet each other with the words: “Christ is risen!” – “He is truly risen!”, and exchange Easter cakes and Easter eggs, symbolizing new life and resurrection. Thus, Easter is not only a remembrance of the historical event of the Resurrection of Christ, but also a testimony of living faith and hope for salvation for every Christian.