Orthodox Easter Monday 2024 (US): Easter in Orthodox Tradition Monday is also referred to as Monday of Renewal and Bright Monday by the Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The date falls on May 6 this year. If, like us, you are perplexed as to why Easter is observed on a Sunday in the West but a Monday in the East, the explanation can be traced back to the contrasting calendar systems adopted by orthodox and unorthodox Christians. The Gregorian calendar designates Easter as a Sunday, whereas the Julian calendar designates the date as Monday.
Orthodox Easter Monday History
As the symbol of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, Easter is a pivotal observance within the Christian faith. Jesus, in accordance with Christian doctrine, was resurrected three days subsequent to his crucifixion. The Easter calendar is subject to annual variation due to its calculation being predicated on the lunar phases. The Easter full moon transpires subsequent to March 21, the date rapidly approaching the March equinox.
Orthodox Christians observe Easter on the first Monday following the Easter full moon, as opposed to Catholic Christians who observe Easter on the first Sunday following the Easter full moon. It required considerable effort to reduce the Easter date to two days—Sunday for Orthodox Christians and Sunday for Catholics—due to the complexity of the calculation. Indeed, during the nascent centuries of Christianity, Easter festivities transpired on a multitude of days, spanning over a week if we consider the Christian communities that first settled in Europe and the Middle East.
In 325, at the behest of Roman Emperor Constantine I, Christian bishops convened at the first Council of Nicea to harmonise religious rites and festivals. The method by which the date of Easter was determined was subsequently dubbed the Ecclesiastical Calculation. Despite Easter Monday being the holiest day in Eastern Christianity, the observance continues throughout the entire week, a period referred to as the Bright Week.
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FAQs with Orthodox Easter Monday
Do Greek Orthodox churches observe the Monday following Easter?
Numerous Orthodox churches worldwide do indeed observe Easter Monday.
Is Easter Monday regarded as a leisure day?
While certain nations observe Easter Monday as a national holiday, the United States does not observe this day.
What took place the day following the resurrection?
There is a belief that Jesus Christ, following His resurrection, manifested Himself to His disciples on multiple occasions throughout the subsequent forty days, providing them with compelling evidence of His resurrection. He shared meals with them and instructed them on the kingdom of God and the Great Commission during these visits.
Orthodox Easter Monday 2024 (US) Activities
A sacred water bath
On April 9, adherents of the Orthodox faith attempt to drench one another in sacred water in countries such as Poland and Slovakia. By attending a Christian church and undergoing sacred water baptism, one may partake in this Christian custom.
Give in to your indulgence of chocolate.
The Easter egg serves as an emblematic representation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, much like eggs which represent renewed life. Children are in luck, because Easter eggs can be crafted from chocolate.
Prepare an egg roll.
On Easter Monday, observance is uncommon in the United States. The White House, on the other hand, annually sponsors the Easter Egg Roll, an endurance competition in which participants roll eggs down an incline while observing which ones remain intact at the bottom.
Five Easter facts that will astound you
The second largest holiday for candies
After Halloween, Easter is the second largest confectionery holiday.
Easter Bunnies are comparatively contemporary.
The initial narrative depicting a rabbit concealing eggs in a garden was published in 1680; this story served as the inspiration for the Easter Bunny motif.
It is the most sizable cocoa festival.
Three out of every four chocolates ingested throughout the year are consumed on Easter, the chocolate industry’s most significant holiday.
It is crucial for the economy.
Approximately $22 billion is spent annually on Easter-related goods.
Easter confections surpass chocolate.
Additionally, everyone in the United States consumes over 15 million jelly beans annually on Easter.
ORTHODOX EASTER MONDAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | May 6 | Monday |
| 2025 | April 21 | Monday |
| 2026 | April 13 | Monday |
