Orthodox Easter Day, which is calculated using the phases of the moon and the equinox, is a holy season and the most important celebration of Eastern Christian or orthodox churches; it will be observed on April 16 this year. The annual Orthodox Easter holiday commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also known as Greek Easter and celebrated as such. The date of Orthodox Easter differs from the date of the Western Easter, which is based on the Gregorian calendar. In the meantime, the Eastern Orthodox Church continues to calculate the dates of holidays, including Easter, using the older Julian calendar. This means that Orthodox Easter occurs later than other Easter celebrations.
Easter is celebrated on a different date by Eastern Orthodox churches than by Western churches, although the dates occasionally coincide. The date of Orthodox Easter varies each year, falling between April 4 and May 8 at the earliest and latest.
HISTORY OF ORTHODOX EASTER DAY
In 325 A.D., the Council of Nicaea established that Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon on or after the March equinox. Despite the fact that this period of celebration was established for churches around the globe, not all churches observe Easter on the Gregorian calendar. Numerous Orthodox churches continue to observe Easter using the Julian calendar. A miscalculation in astronomy is believed to have led to the existence of two distinct calendars. The primary intent behind the creation of the Gregorian calendar was to move Easter. According to history.com, Pope Gregory XIII introduced his Gregorian calendar, while Europe continued to use the Julian calendar, which Julius Caesar had first implemented. Since the system of the Roman emperor miscalculated the length of the solar year by 11 minutes, the calendar is no longer in sync with the seasons. This concerned Gregory because it meant that Easter, which was traditionally celebrated on March 21, fell further away from the vernal equinox each year.
In the Bible, Orthodox Easter is the day on which Mary Magdalene discovered an empty tomb in the cave where Jesus was buried after his crucifixion. It marks the conclusion of forty days of Lent (40 days of self-reflection and fasting). The Lenten fast is comparable to a soul’s journey through the wilderness of the world. It is believed to strengthen the worshiper’s inner life by diminishing the appeal of the flesh and drawing one closer to God. During this fast, no meat or animal products (eggs, milk, butter, and cheese) are consumed in Eastern churches, and fish is only consumed on certain days.
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5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT EASTER
- Paskha is derived from the Jewish holiday of Pesach, which commemorates the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.
- Easter varies from year to year because it occurs on the first Sunday following the first full moon.
- People exchange Easter eggs, kiss each other three times on the cheeks, and frequently say “Christ is risen” and respond “He is truly risen.”
- The most important event of the Orthodox church year, Easter is preceded by forty days of Lent.
- Easter festivities include a variety of games that typically involve the use of Easter eggs.
ORTHODOX EASTER DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | April 24 | Sunday |
| 2023 | April 16 | Sunday |
| 2024 | May 5 | Sunday |
| 2025 | April 20 | Sunday |
| 2026 | April 12 | Sunday |
