I know it is too early for an Easter post, and it is especially early for my Easter. But here it goes anyway.
Easter is a Christian holiday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ ,three days after His crucifixion. Easter is in the core of Christianity, since the whole faith is mainly built on the idea that Jesus died for us, to erase the original sin and give us a new chance for a life, that we can choose our path in. (Okay, this is how I understand it.)
The Easter date is determined every year following the moon cycle. It is the first Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon(the first moon whose fourteenth day is on or after March 21st). This year, Easter falls on April 12th. However, this is not the Easter I celebrate. I follow the Greek Orthodox Church, which follows the Julian Calender, which makes the Eastern Easter dates different from the Western Easter dates, normally a week later(although I've seen them both fall on the same day before,like in 2007). So Easter for me this year falls on April 19th.
I've always loved Easter, it is my favorite holiday of the year. I love everything that is associated with Easter, from Great Lent, to eggs dying, to family gatherings, to baking Easter cookies(more in that later), to church functions. I especially love the Holy Week, and love spending it at church as much as I can.
I should mention that in our home growing up, we never did an egg hunt. We boiled and colored eggs, but never hid them and looked for them, so for me as a child, it was a treat to get to participate in an egg hunt in school.
I love my church, so I may be a little biased towards it, but I think the whole church is transformed during this holy season. Starting with Clean Monday(the first day in Great Lent), up until Saturday's midnight Resurrection Liturgy, the church is full of activities. And if one has the time and desire, one can spend everyday at church. What I love the most, is the animation of the events, the Church plays the events day by day, so one could truly live it.
The holy week starts with Palm Sunday,marked by the distribution of palm leaves tied into crosses to the people at church, and usually three tours around the church with palms and icons take place.
I normally try not to miss Holy and Great Thursday, Mystical Supper Liturgy.(Last Supper). It is a festive day at church, with the icons festive colors, and the washing of the feet, it is a day to remember.
Then comes Good Friday, where the vestments in church are changed to black, and Passion of Christ is celebrated, with twelve Gospel reading from the Last Supper to the sealing of the tomb,during which people are holding their lighted candles. At some point, before the reading that mentions crucifixion, the Priest carries a large wooden cross that has the crucified body of Christ attached to it, and sets it upright in the center of the church, where people can come forward and venerate it. This is sometimes celebrated Thursday evening or Friday morning. A "funeral" takes place on Friday evening, which is so moving.
On Holy and Great Saturday, the morning service is the Divine Liturgy of St Basil, but the real highlight is the Midnight Liturgy,when the crowds and Priests go outside the church, and stand in front of the door, and play out the part when Jesus conquers death,and the Canon of Pascha(Easter) is repeated throughout the night: Christ is risen from the dead,trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life. This is normally sung in as many languages as the church members can master. And throughout the liturgy, the Priests calls out: Christ is risen, and the crowds answers: truly He is risen. Again this is done in many languages, but at least Greek and English.
It is a truly moving experience. Every year, I look forward to it.
Last year, we were here on Maui during Easter, and there is no Greek Orthodox Church here, and due to conflicting work schedules, we were unable to go to Honolulu,Saints Constantine & Helen Church, . But this year, we will be celebrating Easter in a Greek Orthodox Church in Honolulu.I am so excited!
We will be flying to Honolulu on Friday Morning, and back to Maui Sunday evening. A highlight of the trip(well, other than the church activities that is) is getting to meet fellow blogger girasoli, who has been so gracious in offering all kind of information and suggestions for our visit to her island. I can hardly wait!
Comments (12)
Easter is fast approaching.
Posted by Ordinary Biscuit | March 23, 2009 6:30 AM
Posted on March 23, 2009 06:30
Hi Candi, thank you for this wonderful post! I'm so glad that you're able to go to Honolulu for Easter Sunday this year. Also great that you are able to meet Girasoli while there.
Have a great day!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | March 23, 2009 7:15 AM
Posted on March 23, 2009 07:15
Candi, What a lovely and most thoughtful post. I too love this holiday for the religious aspects as well as for my childhood fond memories. I'm so happy for you that you will be able to celebrate in a Greek Orthodox church and to meet Girasoli. You both are special people. I can tell by your blogs your meeting will be wonderful. Have fun and an early Happy Easter to you.
Posted by Barb Cabot | March 23, 2009 9:16 AM
Posted on March 23, 2009 09:16
I have always been intrigued by the difference and similarities between the Western and Eastern Christianity. Reading this entry answered many questions I had about Eastern Easter. It seems that each day of Holy Week brings a different service. I don't attend church everyday during Holy week but do go for the services from Holy Thursday through Easter Vigil on Saturday evening.
Your Easter weekend plans sound wonderful.
Posted by María I. | March 23, 2009 10:08 AM
Posted on March 23, 2009 10:08
How wonderful that you will get to go to church in Honolulu! And have a GTG with Girasoli! Sounds like a wonderful weekend.
Posted by Annie | March 23, 2009 10:48 AM
Posted on March 23, 2009 10:48
Thanks all, I am excited about church and my GTG with Girasoli.
Maria, I too normally start going on Holy Thursday and after. I imagine that the Catholic services are very similar, right?
Posted by candi | March 23, 2009 3:05 PM
Posted on March 23, 2009 15:05
I’d like to believe that they are more similarities than differences.
This is an abbreviated version of the Easter Triduum: on Holy Thursday there’s the bell ringing for the last time until Easter Sunday, the washing of the feet, and the removal of the Blessed Sacrament from the chapel. The altar is stripped and all crosses are removed or covered with a black (or purple) cloth.
Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday. There’s the Passion of the Lord with Communion and then the Via Crucis is prayed.
The Vigil on Saturday starts in the dark until the Paschal candle is blessed and lighted by the priest. There are a series of long readings before the candidates for baptism are presented. This service can run 2 hours long, and even longer. It is a very joyful celebration with the faithful renewing the baptismal profession of faith.
Back home (Puerto Rico) the vigil is called "Sabado de Gloria" (Glory Saturday). Easter Sunday is celebrated almost at the same level as Christmas Day.
Posted by María I. | March 23, 2009 6:37 PM
Posted on March 23, 2009 18:37
Great post! I had actually been wondering about how you keep up with church activities when you live in so many different places. Thanks for teaching us about the Greek Orthodox church!
Posted by Chiocciola | March 23, 2009 7:43 PM
Posted on March 23, 2009 19:43
Forgot to say: Yay for hanging out with Girasoli!!
Posted by Chiocciola | March 23, 2009 7:49 PM
Posted on March 23, 2009 19:49
Maria, thanks for the information on Easter for Catholics. I think there are a lot of similarities.
Chiocciola, I try to keep up with church activities, there are mostly at least one Greek Orthodox Church in most places I lives, some bigger, some smaller.Maui is the only place that there isn't one. I do miss that.And yeah I am excited about meeting Girasoli.
Posted by candi | March 23, 2009 10:09 PM
Posted on March 23, 2009 22:09
I enjoyed learning more about the Greek Orthodox Easter celebration. I am so glad you will be able to come over to Oahu this year to attend some of the services. And I can't wait to meet you and Bill and hang out a little. Oh and I grew up only hunting chocolate Easter eggs. I didn't even color Easter eggs until I started teaching.
Posted by girasoli | March 24, 2009 2:08 AM
Posted on March 24, 2009 02:08
Candi, I hope you and Girasoli have a wonderful GTG -- what a great way to mark Easter.
I've become slack about Holy Week (I'm a pretty bad Catholic.) But with your reminder that Easter is coming up soon, perhaps this year I'll be better organized.
Posted by sandrac | March 24, 2009 7:59 PM
Posted on March 24, 2009 19:59