By Ben McEachenFriday 3 May 2024Hope MorningsEasterReading Time: 4 minutes
First things first: There is only one Easter.
Key points
- This year, Good Friday is happening on May 3rd, with Orthodox Easter Sunday on May 5, as it is based on the Julian calendar.
- Preceded by the 40-day Lent observance, Orthodox Easter Week begins with Palm Sunday.
- Hear the full conversation in the player above.
Second thing: Easter is celebrated twice annually.
This year, the widespread marking of Easter was Friday, March 29, to Sunday April 1.
Good Friday also is happening on May 3rd, with Orthodox Easter Sunday on May 5.
Why are there two separate Easter weekends and what happens during Orthodox Easter?
Bill Nichols from mobile barista Cafe2U celebrates Greek Orthodox Easter every year.
He told Hope Mornings about its history, traditions and tasty treats.
Two different calendars
There is a simple reason why Easter is celebrated twice each year.
From Greek to Coptic, Orthodox denominations date back to the times of Jesus, his immediate disciples and first followers.
The Julian calendar was used in the first century, having been created around 46BC by Roman leader Julius Caesar.
The Greek Orthodox Church bases its celebrations and traditions upon the Julian calendar, but many other Christian denominations follow the Gregorian calendar.
This year, Good Friday is happening on May 3rd, with Orthodox Easter Sunday on May 5.
As Bill briefly explained, the Gregorian calendar was developed by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and has become the defining calendar of the Western World.
The Gregorian calendar aimed for greater accuracy during the time of a solar year.
When it comes to Easter, the Julian calendar has always placed it one week after Passover.
In contrast, the date of Easter each year of the Gregorian calendar follows lunar cycles of the “ecclesiastical full moon”!
“So, they can be different, and they can come together,” Bill told Hope Mornings about the two separate Easter weekends.
“It might be one week apart one year, or two weeks, and then there will be a certain year when they come together.”
Light at Midnight
Bill, his family and church community also celebrate Easter whenever it appears on the Gregorian calendar.
“We do and most Orthodox families, living in the Western World, would do this,” Bill said.
“You’ll still go out and buy your Easter eggs and say ‘Happy Easter’ to all your Christian friends.
“But when it comes to celebrating it solemnly and traditionally, we will wait until Orthodox Easter is scheduled.”
Preceded by the 40-day Lent observance, Orthodox Easter Week begins with Palm Sunday.
During the week, Easter liturgies are conducted each day.
Preceded by the 40-day Lent observance, Orthodox Easter Week begins with Palm Sunday.
Different aspects of the biblical and spiritual narrative of Jesus’ final week are highlighted, such as “the Mystery of the Holy Unction” on Wednesday or the Last Supper on Thursday.
After the sombre, reverential church service on Good Friday to remember Jesus’ crucifixion, Bill described the communal radiance of the Easter Saturday Midnight Mass.
“Around midnight, the priest will go up to the altar, close the doors off and light a commemorative vigil light which celebrates the resurrection of Christ,” Bill said.
“Then, he will open the doors and, as we all hold candles, we get that vigil light from the priest.
“We pass it on to each parishioner until everyone has lit their candle.
“After this… the priest will announce: ‘Christ is risen.’ [“Christos Anesti!”]
“We respond with ‘Truly, he is risen.'” [“Alithos Anesti!”]
Meaningful munchies
Food is a significant part of Orthodox Easter.
Forget the chocolate Easter eggs, though.
While they are consumed, Bill described several traditional treats which have deep meaning for Easter celebrations, including biscuits and sweet bread.
Koulourakia is a butter pastry biscuit.
Food is a significant part of Orthodox Easter, forget the chocolate Easter eggs, though.
“When it is made, it is made with three strands of dough – intertwined, braided – and it is symbolic of the Holy Trinity,” Bill said.
Tsoureki is similar to koulourakia, as it is a braided wreath of sweet bread.
Bill explained why tsoureki features a boiled egg, dyed red, inserted in the baked dough.
“It is dyed in red, symbolic of Christ’s blood,” Bill said.
“The egg signifies the tomb.
“What we will do after the Midnight Mass is we will have a basket of eggs and we all grab an egg.
“We crack those against each other… and this signifies Christ breaking from the tomb, his resurrection and Christ becoming the light of the world.”
Listen to the full interview with Bill Nichols in the player above.
Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro