Description
Easter is a movable holiday which is celebrated on a different date every year. It can fall between April 4 and May 8 according to the new, Gregorian calendar, i.e. between March 22 and April 25, according to the old, Julian calendar, but it is tied exclusively to Sunday. The celebration of Easter was established by a Decree at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
Easter is one of the most important Christian holidays, “the holiday above all other holidays”. It is celebrated in memory of the victory of Lord Jesus Christ over death by resurrection, which was announced by angels and myrrh-bearing women, finding the tomb empty three days after Jesus was crucified and died on the cross on the hill Golgotha above Jerusalem. It is also called Christian Pascha, after the Old Testament holiday of the Jews, in memory of the liberation from Egyptian slavery. For Orthodox, Easter is preceded by a seven-week fast, stricter than other fasts during the year. The last week of the fast is called Holy Week, i.e. Passion Week, marking the days of the passion of Christ. Many folk customs are associated with this week, including the painting of eggs, which are a symbol of resurrection. The first painted red egg is stored until next year and is called “the guard of the house”. At the dawn of Easter, the faithful gather in the church, greeting each other with: “Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen!” and participate in the festive Liturgy with the priests. Easter is a holiday of joy and faith in eternal life. The whole week after Easter is called Bright Week, and Monday and Tuesday are marked as Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday.
Troparion of the Resurrection: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life” Kontakion of the Resurrection: “Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of Hades, and didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! and giving peace unto Thine apostles, Thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen”
Expert collaboration: Miljana Matić, PhD in Art History, Curator of the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Artistic realisation of the issue: MA Marija Vlahović, academic graphic artist.
