Orthodox Christians prepare for Easter rejoicing
Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Religion/152552/
For the majority of area Christians, Easter is over.
But for Orthodox Christians, the joyous commemoration of Christ’s resurrection occurs just after midnight tonight.
Two Easters can be confusing, but the dates differ because Orthodox Christians follow a different liturgical schedule, one based on the Julian calendar.
Easter, or Holy Pascha (the preferred term for Orthodox Christians ), is actually calculated by many factors, including the date of the first full moon after the spring equinox and the date of Passover. Some years, as will be the case in 2007, both Easters occur on the same day. But more often the holidays are weeks apart.
Although the dates might differ, the emphasis is the same — celebrating the resurrection of Christ.
“It’s the holiday of holidays for us,” says the Rev. John Atchison, priest at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Springdale. “It’s the most important — so important it’s beyond a holiday.”
Atchison’s congregation will begin Pascha services at 10: 30 p. m. today. The liturgy celebrating the resurrection will begin at midnight. Sunday afternoon, the congregation will regather for the traditional breaking of the Lenten fast and share a meal together.
Atchison says he uses the time of fasting to prepare his heart.
“I try to become like Jesus in his suffering to a small degree, to relate to what he did for me,” he says.
For Atchison, Pascha is the pinnacle of the church year, and the foundation of the faith.
“Without Pascha we wouldn’t have Christianity,” Atchison says. “Jesus would have just been another prophet, a great teacher, but by his resurrection it means he was who he said he was.” Atchison says belief in the resurrection is the crux of church doctrine. “This fulfills everything for us. It’s so important that our Scriptures say if you believe Jesus rose from dead and that he is Lord you will be saved,” he says.
ENDS OF THE EARTH The Rev. John Maxwell, priest at Saints George and Alexandra Orthodox Christian Mission in Fort Smith, says Pascha really begins each year with Lazarus Saturday (the day before Palm Sunday ) and Palm Sunday, which foreshadow Christ’s resurrection. During Holy Week, many congregations have services each day, each with a special focus.
Maxwell says the entire Lenten season should be observed to experience Pascha completely.
“It’s all connected. To really experience it in the deepest way you need to be a part of the whole process,” he says.
Today, Maxwell’s congregation will have a liturgy service that will include readings of Old Testament prophecies about Christ, his death and resurrection. At 11: 30 p. m., the congregation will begin the Pascha service, starting in complete darkness and ending in the light.
At noon Sunday, the congregation will return for another service and will proceed to the four directions — east, west, north and south — and read the Gospels in as many languages as possible. Last year Scriptures were read in Russian, Arabic, English, German and Hebrew.
“It’s to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. Every people, every tribe and every language needs to hear the good news that Christ is risen,” Maxwell says. “It’s a profession of our faith.”
‘SOMETHING REFRESHING’
In a symbolic gesture during Pascha, the figure of Christ is removed from all crosses, leaving an empty cross until the Feast of Ascension, which commemorates Christ’s ascension to heaven.
“The rest of the year we are reminded of his work on the cross, so he is there,” Atchison says.
Another unique gesture is that for the 40 days following Pascha, Orthodox Christians greet one another not with “hello” or “good morning,” but by saying “Christ is risen.” The expected response is “Indeed he is risen” or “Truly he is risen.”
“It’s something refreshing and fun to do,” Atchison says.
St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church is at 105 S. Blair St. Information on service times is available by calling (479 ) 751-1830. Saints George and Alexandra Orthodox Mission is at 7500 Mahogany St. Information is available by calling (479 ) 484-7573.