Different moments in the Orthodox Church's year are marked by special ceremonies and, of these, Easter is one of the most moving - and dramatic!

For sheer drama, there is nothing to beat the Easter ceremonies in the smaller, traditional, rural or island communities. They are all performed with much anticipation and solemnity. It is during the Holy Week that the most moving and impressive moments in Orthodox worship occur, as day by day and hour by hour the Church enters into the passion of the Lord.
Holy Week reaches its climax, first in the procession of the Epitaphion (the figure of the Dead Christ laid out for burial) on the evening of Good Friday, and then in the Matins of the Resurrection at Easter midnight. To be present at this midnight service, is to be witness to a celebration of universal joy.

There are strict dietary and fasting regulations that come into play leading up to the moment of the Resurrection at midnight on the Holy Saturday.
The last week before the beginning of Lent is called Apokrea - the Greek carnival. Greeks fast during the first and last weeks of Lent, and the most devout fast for the entire forty days, often abstaining from fish, eggs, butter, milk, and cheese as well as meat, and on some days avoiding wine and olive oil as well. On Holy Thursday, lambs are slaughtered in preparation for the big family meal on Easter Sunday. On Holy Thursday, time is also spent boiling eggs and dying them red. The dying of the eggs signifies the blood of Christ. The eggs are polished with olive oil until they shine.

Lentil soup is the traditional Holy Thursday supper. On Holy Friday, the Lambropsomo (Easter bread) is baked. It is a sweet, braided bread topped with some of the red eggs. On the Saturday, preparations are made for the roasting of the family's lamb for the Sunday meal. Meanwhile, the mother of the house will use the entrails of the lamb to make a traditional Easter soup, mayeritsa, and the Easter sausage, kokoretsi.

On the night of Holy Saturday, everybody goes to church carrying unlighted candles. During the course of the service, the church is in darkness, and the suspense mounts. On the stroke of midnight, the priest appears from behind the altar screen holding a lighted candle and announces "Christos Anesti!" - "Christ is Risen!" This moment of high emotion is usually accompanied by cheering, and the throwing of fireworks!
Everyone lights a candle from that of her or his neighbour, and they will then wend their way homewards.

Once at home, the strict fast of the last week of Lent ends with a midnight supper of Easter bread, eggs and cheese, and the mayeritsa soup. The next day, Easter Sunday, the paschal lamb has the place of honour at the feast. A most joyous occasion!

Visitors to Greece may often wonder why the Greek Easter falls on a different date to that of Easter in Western Europe. According to the first Ecumenical Council of 325 AD, the Orthodox Easter comes on the first Sunday after the full moon of the spring equinox. That is why it is not at the same time as that of the Western Church.

Good Friday Celebrations	EasterNight Festivities
Serving the Easter Lamb	The Easter Day Feast!