Orthodox Christians will begin this weekend with the observance of Holy Week leading up to their celebration of Pascha (Easter) on April 27. Today is Lazarus Saturday; Sunday is Palm Sunday.

Nine days are set aside by the Orthodox Church to commemorate the final and decisive events of the earthly life of Jesus Christ, said Father Basil Zebrun of St. Barbara Orthodox Church in Fort Worth. “Traditionally, during this time, Orthodox Christians make an effort to lay aside all earthly cares in order to devote themselves to contemplating the central mysteries of their faith: the Cross, Tomb and Resurrection of Jesus,” he said.

Members of Orthodox churches celebrate Easter later than other Christians because the Orthodox church uses a method established by the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, Zebrun said. Western tradition Christians celebrated Palm Sunday on March 16 and Easter on March 23. In Western Christianity, Easter Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the first full moon of spring and can fall anytime between March 22 and April 25.

Orthodox Easter can fall between April 4 and May 8 and it always follows Jewish Passover, which begins at sunset today. Easter, or Pascha, will be celebrated in the Orthodox Church on April 27.

Next week, the Orthodox faithful will remember the suffering and death of Christ during the most solemn week on their calendar, Holy Week. Observances will range from daily liturgical services to informal meetings aimed at helping parishioners place the hope of the Resurrection against the background of suffering and death.