At a time when many people have long since put away their Easter baskets and decorations for another year, Eastern Orthodox Christians, who comprise the second-largest group within the world’s Christian population, are just now preparing for the joyous celebration of Easter (Pascha) on Sunday, April 27.

The difference in dates for this holiday results from the fact that Orthodox Christians still use the ancient Julian Calendar for calculating the date of Easter. This was the calendar in use when the Christian Church formally established the date of Easter at the First Ecumenical Council, meeting in Nicea during the year 325 A.D. It is this date that has been observed by Orthodox Christians around the world continuously since that time, although most other Christians now use the newer Gregorian Calendar (established in 1582) for calculating the holiday observance. Occasionally the dates for Easter coincide, but this year they are separated by a span of five weeks.

In addition, Orthodox Christians commonly use the more ancient and traditional title of Pascha for the holiday celebrating Christ’s resurrection. This is a term that is taken from the Greek word for Passover; as for example: “For indeed Christ, our Passover (Greek Pascha), was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast (1 Corinthians 5:7-8 NKJV).”

Locally, the parishioners of Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Beckley have been busy preparing the upcoming celebration. Since the beginning of Great Lent on March 10, Orthodox Christians have participated in a variety of special services. And during the Orthodox Great and Holy Week (the week before Pascha), there are multiple worship services scheduled for each day of the week, culminating with the joyous celebration of Pascha at 10:30 p.m. Saturday evening, April 26, and continuing Sunday with the Agape Service at 11 a.m.

For more information and a complete schedule of the services for Great and Holy Week, call Father Samuel Haddad at 252-5821. Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church is located at 211 S. Heber St. in downtown Beckley.