Easter is the greatest Christian holiday. The holiday takes its beginning from ancient times. And it will not be superfluous to look into the past, to see its origins. But before setting off on a journey through time, it is worth answering an important question: what date is Easter this year? The Christian Orthodox world will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on April 8.
Old Testament Easter
In the Old Testament, Passover (the Hebrew name for Easter) was celebrated in honor of the liberation of the Jewish people from the power of the Egyptian pharaoh. From Hebrew, Passover is translated as "past, passed by." And this translation reflects the very essence of the establishment of the holiday.
The Jews celebrated not only the liberation of their people from Egypt. They also triumphed because the punishment of the Lord passed them. What kind of pun is it? The fact is that the Egyptian pharaoh refused to let the Jewish people out of his country. And it caused the wrath of God. God severely punished the Egyptians for the injustice of the pharaoh. All the males who were the first-born in their families died. Jews punishment passed, bypassed. Hence the translation of the word "Passover".
New Testament Easter
In the New Testament, the festival is established in honor of the Resurrection of Christ. According to Christian teaching, God sent His Son to earth. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the incarnation of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. He came into the sinful world to become the beginning of a new life. The Savior accepted death on the cross as a human race, sacrificed himself for human sins. In the "Symbol of Faith" there are such lines:
"Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate. And she suffered, and was buried and resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures."
Christ suffered death on the cross, and on the third day after the crucifixion, he was resurrected. But all this is worth talking in more detail.
Holy Week
What date this year Easter in the Christian world, was indicated above. And what precedes the holiday? Holy Week. The Holy, or the Terrible (popular) week is the last week of Lent, which is established in memory of how Christ Himself fasted 40 days in the wilderness after his Baptism.
On Holy Week, the church recalls the suffering of the Lord. According to legend, on Wednesday the Savior was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. He sold the Son of God for 30 pieces of silver to the high priests. And in his last earthly meal with his disciples, called the Last Supper, Jesus Christ directly speaks of this betrayal. Hoping that Judas will repent of his deed. But Iskariot did not repent at that moment.
The Last Supper was celebrated on Thursday - Good Thursday, or Pure Thursday, as it is popularly called. And on Friday, Great Friday, “at three o’clock in the afternoon,” the Lord was crucified on the cross, executed by the most shameful execution of those times, along with the robbers.
On Holy Saturday, the day after the execution, the Holy Myrrh-bearing women went to the cave, where the tomb of the Savior was located. However, the deceased was not found there. The stone blocking the entrance to the cave was moved away, and the cave itself was empty. Mary Magdalene, as the Gospel of John tells us, was the first to come to the cave. And she was forced to return to the Apostles, saying that "we do not know where they laid him." And then she was left at the cave alone. And she cried for a long time, cried until the Savior appeared to her.
Light Resurrection
What is the number of Easter, this great day - the Bright Resurrection of Christ? This year the Orthodox will celebrate Easter on April 8th. This is truly the greatest day. The day the Savior rose from the dead, thereby defeating the horrors of death and hell. "Death! Where is your sting? Hell! Where is your victory?" - the words of the Apostle Paul are heard that day. Christ is Risen, and life triumphs. Hell is violated, its network is destroyed. Triumphant believing people, Christ is Risen!
How to prepare for the holiday
What is the number of Easter and how to prepare for this holiday? Preparations for the festival, such as spring cleaning, should be completed before Holy Week. On Holy Week, as during the entire period of fasting, it is advisable to attend Divine Services.
The culinary preparation for Easter is another matter. It includes coloring eggs and baking cakes. Unfortunately, in the modern world the last point is almost absent. You can buy any Easter cake, and few people know the recipe for a real Easter cake. But the tradition of congratulating each other on Christ's Resurrection and exchanging colored eggs has not died out.
As a rule, eggs are painted on Clean Thursday. There are a lot of staining methods: someone cooks them in onion peel, someone uses dyes or stickers. And others work miracles and paint testicles with paints, turning them into a natural masterpiece.
There is another Easter table dish. His name is Easter. It is a sweet curd mass laid out with a trapezoid and decorated. Mandatory in the decoration is the inscription "H.V.". That is - Christ is Risen. The inscription can be made in the form of multi-colored culinary chips, it is not at all difficult.
The eggs are painted, Easter is ready, Easter cakes are bought and are waiting in the wings. The hour, or rather the rite of consecration of Easter cakes and eggs, begins on Holy Saturday. On this day after morning service, believers rush to consecrate festive products.
Easter service
What is the number of Easter days in Russia and when can you attend this special service? On April 8, 2018, liturgies will be held in all Orthodox churches of Russia.
Easter service is something special. It is impossible to describe in words, it must be visited. The night service is wonderful. What are the red priestly robes, the joyful faces of believers. "Christ is Risen!" - the priest declares from the pulpit. And the parishioners childishly loudly and joyfully answer: "Truly Risen!" The Gospel is read in several languages of the world - when else does this happen, if not at Easter? Indeed, this night no time is felt, it seems that it has stopped. Joy and fun sprinkle over the edge, filling the temple, and "Angels sing in heaven."
Catholic Easter
Not only Orthodox celebrate Easter. Catholics also have such a holiday. What is the number of Catholic Easter? Does it coincide with the Orthodox? Sometimes the same. This year, the Catholic holiday of Easter will be on the first of April. That is, a week earlier than the Orthodox.
Some traditions of the Catholic festival coincide with the Orthodox. For example, Catholics also paint eggs, bake muffins and muffins for the celebration, decorated with glaze and vaguely reminiscent of Easter cakes. As for the service, there are no coincidences.
Maslenitsa
What is the number of Easter - it is clear. And what is Shrovetide? Maslenitsa festival precedes the beginning of Lent. Pancake week , or Cheese week, means the rejection of meat. This is the time when meat can no longer be eaten, but other products of animal origin can be.
Shrovetide is a week of fun and noisy festivities, games and, of course, pancakes. In the days of Shrovetide, people say goodbye to winter, and this is reflected in the burning of a scarecrow of Shrovetide. Pancakes - a symbol of the sun - are eaten all week. What is the number of Shrovetide and Easter this year? Believers will celebrate Easter on April 8, and Pancake Days have passed. They lasted from February 12 to 19.
Parent Easter
Easter is not limited to one day. The festive or Bright Week (week) will last from April 8 to 17 this year. These days are intended for the joy of believers after Lent, for walking in the Temple, Communion and meeting with loved ones.
But what about no less close, but already dead? Is it really impossible to go to the cemetery on Svetly Sedmitsa? In order to visit the deceased relatives, there is a separate day. This is Radonitsa, or parental Easter. What date does it fall, that is, when you can go to the cemetery? April 17th. On this day it will be possible to take eggs and pieces of Easter cake to the grave, tidy up there, and visit the deceased relatives. Better yet, go to the temple and light a candle for the repose of the soul of a dear person.
Some interesting facts
How many Orthodox Easter - was indicated above. Now some interesting information about the holiday.
- Easter is a passing holiday. Therefore, what number of Easter will come, calculated by special formulas. There is a similar calculation. The Orthodox Easter comes on the first Sunday after the full moon. Moreover, this full moon should come no earlier than the day of the vernal equinox.
- The Russian Orthodox Church adheres to the Julian calendar. In addition to her, Jerusalem, Serbian, and Sinai churches live on this calendar. And this list includes Athos. The remaining Orthodox churches live according to the Gregorian calendar.
The custom of painting eggs in red originates from ancient times. According to legend, Mary Magdalene, learning that Christ was resurrected, hastened with this news to King Tiberius I. As a gift for the king, she prepared an egg. Tiberius, hearing of the miraculous Resurrection of the Lord, did not believe Magdalene. He said that he would believe in her words only if the egg brought by Mary turns red. And the egg turned red. Tiberius believed in the Resurrection, and the Orthodox in memory of this paint eggs in red and other colors.
Conclusion
Preparing for Easter is not only cleaning the house and coloring the eggs. This is primarily the preparation of your soul. Frequent church attendance, confession, communion, and unction. Fasting and taming your own passions. However, on the day of the Holy Christ Resurrection everyone rejoices and rejoices, regardless of how they held the Great Lent.
What should be remembered from the article? What date is Easter - the most important event for a Christian. It is necessary to prepare for it in advance. And the Lord, seeing how a person strives for Him, will help to celebrate the holiday joyfully.