ORTHODOX CHURCH CATHOLIC CHURCH CHURCH DIFFERENCE 1054 PROTESTANT CHURCHES THE LUTHERAN CIRCLE REFORMED CHURCHES CHURCH OF ENGLAND OTHER PROTESTANT COMMUNITIES HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF FINLAND
EASTER
ORTHODOX CHURCH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHURCHES OF THE EASTERN AND WESTERN PATRIARITIES ICONS SACRAMENTS VALAMO MONASTERY ORTHODOX EASTER WORSHIP CHURCH BUILDING
THE COUNTER STARTS THE FAST
Easter begins with a countdown that is 40 days before Easter. No milk or meat products may be eaten for almost 7 weeks. Eggs are also on the banned list. Adults should abstain from alcohol and children from caramels. The purpose is to learn self-discipline.
PALM SUNDAY
Palm Sunday commemorates the Lord’s riding a donkey to Jerusalem. People threw palm branches on the road. We don’t have palm trees, which is why our modest willows are decorated with paper flowers. In the vigil of the Saturday before Palm Sunday, the stamens and willow branches are blessed and distributed to the parishioners at home. The remaining jokes are decorated with church icons.
Palm Sunday tradition includes children visiting acquaintances to wake up. "Virvon varvon, fresh healthy ..."
GREAT WEEK, QUIET WEEK .
In this case, it is not customary in the villages. That’s when we go to church to keep quiet and prepare for Easter. For example, we make Easter, curd, butter, eggs and sugar. The mixture is placed in wooden molds lined with gauze to solidify and wait for Easter. When the mold is opened the letters XB appear on the surface of the Passover, meaning HRISTOS VOSKRESE (Christ rose from the dead)
GREAT THURSDAY
Communion is a theme in the churches tonight. After the liturgy, the bishops wash the feet of the clergy following the example of Jesus.
GREAT FRIDAY
There are three services in the churches: royal moments, great evening service, and morning service. In the afternoon there is a great evening service commemorating the death of Christ and the crucifixion. In the evening, the funeral of Christ is celebrated. Then a tombstone of Jesus will be carried around the church.
GREAT SATURDAY
Maundy Saturday services begin as early as Friday. This will commemorate the presence of Christ in the tomb and prepare the congregation for the great celebration to come. Saturday services end before midnight.
Easter service begins. The people of the church receive fire from the altar. The congregation leaves the church with burning turmoil in hand and walks around the church clergy and church flags. Church bells ring the message of Easter and the church people sing: "Of thy resurrection Christ the Savior, the angels singing in the heavens, make us acceptable upon the earth, to praise thee with a pure heart."
In front of the closed door of the church, the clergy begin the Easter hymn: "Christ rose from the dead, overcame death by his death, and gave life to those in the graves."
The doors of the church are opened and the church people can see the festively lit hall. The liturgy includes the traditional sermon of John Chrysostom. The liturgy lasts at about three o'clock, after which a gathering is held to celebrate the Resurrection Feast in the parish house or homes.
Now you are allowed to eat all the delicacies that were abstained during the fast. The traditional Easter greetings are exchanged: a triple cheek kiss that says "Christ rose from the dead" and replies, "Truly he rose."
Painted eggs, or droplets, are also given as Easter greetings.
