The Russian people are very fond of celebrating a variety of holidays on a grand scale: New Year, Defender of the Fatherland Day, March 8, May Day. But there are special celebrations that Orthodox Christians in Russia treat with trepidation - church holidays.
The bright holiday of Easter
The most anticipated and beloved church holiday among Orthodox people is Easter (Resurrection of Christ). This holiday is timed to the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On this day, believers who have passed Great Lent were baptized.
Easter is not fixed in the everyday calendar for a specific date. The date and even the month of the celebration changes from year to year, and therefore Easter can be celebrated both at the end of March and at the beginning of May. The day and month are calculated according to the lunisolar calendar using Easter (church tables).
Other church holidays depend on the date of the Easter celebration - the Holy Trinity, Ascension.
In 2014, the bright holiday of Easter is scheduled for April 20.
Features of the Easter holiday
The largest service is held on Easter. By midnight, millions of people are gathering in churches across the country, most of them for the entire All-Night Service. It is so named because it lasts all night. It should be noted that Catholics hold services in the morning.
A special role on this day is given to delicious dishes, because the seven-week strictest Great Lent is behind us. At the head of the festive table is Easter cake and painted chicken eggs. Why exactly chicken? According to legend, Mary Magdalene, having got to the reception to Tiberius with the news of the resurrection of Christ, presented this emperor with an ordinary chicken egg.
She brought it as a gift with the words: "Christ is Risen!" The emperor did not listen to her and said that he would believe it only if the white egg changed its color. And when it turned bright scarlet, he exclaimed: "Indeed he is Risen!" Hence another tradition - an unusual greeting on the Easter holiday.
Easter in 2014
The main condition for calculating the date of the light holiday is that it is celebrated on the first Sunday after the spring full moon.
In 2014, this holiday for Orthodox Christians falls on the 20th of April. Catholic Easter this year coincides with Orthodox, and will be celebrated on the same day.
Sometimes the date of the celebration of the celebration among Catholics and Orthodox does not coincide, Catholic Easter can be celebrated earlier.
According to old traditions, the day before Easter, on Holy Saturday, it is customary to first paint eggs and bake cakes, and then consecrate them in the local church. This day is considered the last day of temptation, because all cooked dishes can be eaten only the next morning.
