What do we celebrate?
Easter (Pascha) is considered the biggest celebration for the Orthodox Christians and the Catholics. Both celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pascha is the Passover from death to life. Easter for the Hebrews means the Passover. It symbolizes their Exodus from slavery in Egypt.
The Great and Holy week
Εaster is a movable celebration. This means that the date is different every year. For the Orthodox Christians, Easter is always celebrated on Sunday after the Great and Holy Lent. During the Great and Holy Week, people go to church to observe the services and pray. On the Holy Wednesday the service of the Unction and the Holy Washbasin take place. The service commemorate the washing of the disciplines’ feet by Jesus Christ. On the Holy Thursday, the observance of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ takes place. Moreover, the believers observe the commemoration of the Crucification of Jesus. In the morning of the Holy Friday, the service of the Descent of Jesus Christ from the Cross and the placement of his body in the tomb takes place. On the Holy Friday afternoon, the service and the procession of of the Epitaph happens. Kids, young and older people follow the Epitaph all around the church with great devoteness. On the Holy Saturday, there are two services that take place in the church. The first Resurrection is celebrated in the morning and the second Resurrection is celebrated at midnight. People light up their Easter candles with the Holy Light and sing the hymn: “Christ is Risen” (Χριστός Ανέστη).
Easter customs
On the Holy Thursday, the Orthodox Christians dye the eggs red. Moreover, they make a special bread for the Jesus Christ and put a red egg on it. Tsoureki, which is sweet bread and Easter biscuits with milk are two other traditions. After the midnight Resurrection’s Service, people carry their candles home and make the sign of the Cross with the flame on their house’s entrance. Last but not least, on the Easter Sunday people skewer the lamb and crack the red eggs.
Λεξιλόγιο – Vocabulary
| η Ανάσταση | Resurrection |
| o σταυρός | Cross |
| ο ορθόδοξος | orthodox |
| το αρνί | lamb |
| η Σταύρωση | Crucification |
| η παράδοση | tradition |
| το έθιμο – τα έθιμα | custom – customs |
| παρακολουθώ | to observe |
| τσουγκρίζω τα αυγά | to crack the eggs |
