Orthodox Easter (Pascha) will be celebrated on April 27th this year by over 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. Holy Week will commence on Palm Sunday, April 20.

“In his First Epistle to the Corinthians, Saint Paul, having detected some wrong ideas about the resurrection among the Corinthians, wrote specifically to underscore the centrality of the resurrection of Christ to the Christian faith,” says Archbishop Demetrios, spiritual leader of 1.5 million Greek Orthodox Christians in America and Chairman of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, in his Easter Encyclical. “Saint Paul observed that some in the community of Corinth who were calling themselves Christians did not believe in the resurrection of the dead….”

“In many ways,” Archbishop Demetrios continues, “our contemporary society resembles the society in which the Corinthians lived. It offers a wide array of religious teachings, theories, and alternative understandings to the question of life after death. Because God has given to people freedom of conscience, we do not cast judgment on the teachings of other religions nor upon those people who hold them. We do insist, however, that on this day of Holy Pascha we are invited to come to a closer understanding of the centrality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the Christian faith and its fundamental meaning for our lives as Orthodox Christians.”

Archbishop Demetrios will officiate at Holy Week services in Greek Orthodox parishes in the metropolitan area including Good Friday Lamentations and Resurrection services Saturday at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (319 East 74th St. New York City). Good Friday services will begin at 8:00 p.m. and Resurrection Services Saturday evening at 11:00 p.m.

Centuries-old religious services which recall the Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ are conducted each morning and evening throughout Holy Week in Orthodox Christian Churches including: Greek, Russian, Romanian, Antiochian, Bulgarian, Carpatho-Russian, Albanian, Serbian and Ukrainian, which serve some 6 million faithful in the Americas.

On PALM SUNDAY during the Divine Liturgy, palms are blessed and distributed to the faithful commemorating Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem.

On HOLY WEDNESDAY, the faithful are anointed with the Sacrament of Holy Unction, blessed oil, which cleanses, renews and strengthens both spiritually and physically.

On HOLY THURSDAY evening, the Service of Holy Passion takes place, during which the Twelve Lessons of the Gospel are read. After the Fifth Gospel a solemn litany begins. A large crucifix is carried in a procession led by the clergy as the mournful hymn of Crucifixion is sung.

On GOOD FRIDAY AFTERNOON, the Vespers of the Descent from the Cross are offered. The Body of Christ is taken down from the Cross, wrapped in white linen and is prepared for burial.

On GOOD FRIDAY evening, the Lamentations are sung during the Epitaphios Service, which symbolizes the burial of Christ.

On HOLY SATURDAY evening, the Pascha Resurrection Service begins with Matins at 11 p.m. At midnight, the Church is completely darkened and the faithful wait in joyous expectation for the Bishop or priest to come forth carrying a white candle, chanting, “Come, Receive the Light, the Light of the Resurrection.” The light is passed to the congregation until the Church is ablaze with the glow of candlelight. A procession of altar boys, choir, chanters and clergy joined by the people move outdoors where the Gospel proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ is read. The triumphant hymn, Christos Anesti (Christ is Risen) is joyously sung by the faithful. At the conclusion of the Resurrection Liturgy, red Easter eggs, which symbolize the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, are distributed to the congregation.

On EASTER SUNDAY, the Vespers of AGAPE (Love) are celebrated with the Holy Gospel of the Resurrection read in several languages emphasizing the universality of Christ’s teaching of love and peace.

The Orthodox date for Easter is based on a decree of the Council of Nicaea, Asia Minor, held in 325 A.D. According to this decree, Easter must be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon of the vernal equinox but always after the Hebrew Passover to maintain the Biblical sequence of events of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. The Orthodox Christian churches have adhered strictly to this formula.

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.

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.

Christians of the Orthodox faith will observe Palm Sunday on April 20 to mark the beginning of Holy Week. Pascha (Easter) will be celebrated April 27.

When Christians were united, the date of Easter was fixed by the Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. It decreed that thereafter the Resurrection of Christ be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon occurring after the vernal equinox, but always after the Hebrew Passover, in order that the consistency with biblical sequence be maintained.

Easter services at St. Nicholas Orthodox Catholic Church, 1000 Barber Lane, will be:

Saturday: 9 a.m., divine liturgy marking the resurrection of Lasarus; 5 p.m., Great Vespers, eve of Palm Sunday, Confessions of the Faithful.

Palm Sunday: 10 a.m., divine liturgy with blessing and distribution of willows.

Holy Thursday: 9 a.m., vesperal liturgy of St. Basil the Great with the preparation of the Reserved Sacrament; 7 p.m., Matins with the reading of the Passion Gospels.

Good Friday: 7 p.m., vespers with the procession of the burial shroud of Christ.

Holy Saturday: 9 a.m., vesperal liturgy of St. Basil the Great; 11:30 p.m., nocturn, Resurrection Matins followed by divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom with the blessing of paschal foods.

Easter Sunday: noon, paschal vespers with the gather of the children for an Easter egg hunt on the parish lawn after the service.

Bright Monday and Tuesday: 9 a.m., divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

In many parts of Europe, Easter is the most anticipated Christian holiday, a celebration of spring and rebirth marked by feasts of foods as drenched in symbolism as they are in frosting.

Whether you’re in Greektown, during Holy Week you’ll find some native version of sweet leavened bread, the staff of life. Here is a bakery cooking up traditional Greek Easter treats to help you breakfast like they do back in the old country.

Tsoureki and koulourakia from Artopolis Bakery Cafe, 306 S. Halsted, (312) 559-9000.

Sweet, yeasty loaves of Greek tsoureki are braided around hard-boiled eggs, dyed crimson on Holy Thursday to signify the blood of Christ, and eaten on Easter Sunday to break the Lenten fast. Artopolis Bakery, a bastion of Greek tradition, offers two sizes of the strikingly attractive bread. Pick up the bigger loaf and partake in another Greek tradition: cracking your egg against a friend’s. The person holding the uncracked egg is said to enjoy good luck for the rest of the year.

The Taxiarchae “Archangels” Greek Orthodox Church of Watertown at 25 Bigelow Ave. is preparing to hold daily services and host a series of activities as local Orthodox Christians of many ethnic descents look forward to celebrating Easter on Sunday, April 27.

The activities begin this weekend on Saturday, April 19, the Saturday of Lazarus, for the Orthros and Divine Liturgy beginning at 8 a.m., followed by a Communion Breakfast, which will include palm cross weaving and Prosphoro (Holy bread) baking. Father Theodore Barbas will also be hearing the confessions of the youth on this day.

Holy Week starts with the Palm Sunday Service beginning at 10 a.m. on April 20, followed by a luncheon serving the traditional meal of fish.

Concurrently, the Watertown Ladies Philoptochos “Good Samaritan” Society, the local chapter of a national philanthropic organization affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, is hosting its annual Palm Sunday Bake Sale featuring homemade sweet breads, a variety of delicious Greek pastries, seasonal treats, a contribution of baked goods from contributors Sophia’s Greek Pantry and Sevan Bakery, and a lamb raffle. The event will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave. Funds raised will be donated, in part, to the Watertown Food Pantry, the Watertown-based Asperger’s Association of New England and Philoxenia House in Brookline, which offers temporary housing for those seeking medical assistance in the Boston area.

Throughout Holy Week, services will be held in the evening, with special afternoon services catering to children being held on Holy Wednesday and Good Friday. A Family Retreat is scheduled for 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Good Friday offering children’s activities, discussion groups, the wrapping of the red eggs that will be distributed on Easter Sunday and a Lenten lunch. The revered Good Friday service featuring the “Epitaphio Thrinos” lamentation procession around the exterior of the church by candlelight begins at 7:30 p.m. Holy Communion can be received starting at 7 a.m. on Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday midnight service begins at 10:45 p.m., with the Resurrection at midnight and Divine Liturgy following at 12:15 a.m.

The Easter Sunday “Agapi” Service (Service of Love) starting at noon celebrates the Resurrection and is recited in at least eight languages.

For more information or a detailed schedule of events, contact 617-924-1536. All are welcome.

Amid burning candles and glowing icons, the Orthodox choir lifts up its voice during an evening service. As incense fills the air, about 50 parishioners bow, make the sign of the cross and join the choir in singing psalms.

Offering an Old World ambience and elaborate liturgies dating to early Christianity, Holy Theophany Orthodox Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a respite from the noise and clutter of modern society, parishioners say. And with Great Lent that began March 10, church members are preparing to go deeper into the tradition as Easter approaches. Although Lent start February 6 on Ash Wednesday, it did for Catholics and some Protestants. But Eastern Orthodox churches follow a different calendar, a holdover from their ancient past. In the Eastern Orthodox faith, Great Lent lasts 40 days, until April 18. Easter will be celebrated April 27, while most Christians observed it March 23.

Despite some basic similarities, Great Lent is more demanding than the Lent practiced by many other Christians, Orthodox leaders say. Moreover, the Orthodox faithful fast not only through Lent, but also during Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and Holy Week. From Monday until Orthodox Easter, congregants refrain from consuming meat, dairy products, fish, wine and olive oil. They avoid malicious talk and many refrain from sex.

“Lent is a time of spiritual cleansing, renewal, purification” said Anthony Karbo, priest of Holy Theophany. “Life is not food. Life is not entertainment. Life is not earthly gratification. It is becoming more human, more like Christ”. Strict Lenten practices reflect claims by the Orthodox that they’re bearers of early Christian teachings, which are manifested not only in determining Easter dates, but also in the faith’s rites, rituals and liturgies. That’s a big attraction for some.

For about 1,000 years, the Orthodox and Catholic churches were one Christian body. Doctrinal disputes eventually led to their schism in 1054. At the time, Orthodoxy was already spreading throughout Russia, Bulgaria and Serbia. Eventually it became the dominant faith in Russia, parts of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. With 160 million members worldwide, the faith is second only to the Catholic Church in Christian adherents. Yet Orthodoxy has been slow to catch on in the United States. According to a study released in February by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, only 0.06 percent of Americans are Orthodox.

Long services, ascetic practices and hard-to-grasp teachings are reasons for the low numbers, Karbo said. “People want a passive, entertaining, consumer-driven Christianity” he said. “That’s not Orthodoxy”. Fasting is hardly a novelty among the Orthodox. They fast about 180 days a year, including every Wednesday and Friday. But Great Lent intensifies the practice. “Lent reminds us that we eat food to live; we don’t live to eat food” said Dennis Schutte, priest of Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Colorado Springs. “The true food is God”.