wfn.org | ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE TO OBSERVE EASTER APRIL 27

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: communications@goarch.org

For Immediate Release
April 16, 2003
Contact: Nikki Stephanopoulos

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE TO OBSERVE EASTER APRIL 27

New York, NY ? Easter will be celebrated this year on April 27	by over 300
million  Orthodox Christians throughout the world.  This great feast of the
Church,  known	as Holy Pascha, celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead following His Crucifixion and Burial.

Reflecting  on the significance of this celebration His Eminence Archbishop
Demetrios,  Primate  of  the  Greek Orthodox Church in America,  stated "On
this  solemn and holy day each one of us will hold a candle and receive the
Paschal  light.   So  too  must we all, each one of us, receive the reality
which  the light symbolizes.  Our faith in the Risen Christ is a faith that
burns  like an unquenchable flame in the Christian soul.  This is the light
that  overcomes  the  darkness	of sin and strife and sorrow in the face of
death.	 Let  us  therefore  hear  and	accept	for  ourselves	the  divine
invitation  of	this  most  holy  day:	 'Come	receive  the light from the
unwaning light, and glorify Christ who has risen from the dead.'"

Archbishop Demetrios will officiate at Holy Week services in Greek Orthodox
parishes  in  the  metropolitan area including: Palm Sunday Liturgy at Holy
Trinity, Bridgeport, CT; St. Demetrios, Jamaica, Bridegroom Service, Sunday
evening; Annunciation, NYC, Bridegroom Service, Monday evening; Kimisis Tis
Theotokou  Church,  Brooklyn,  Bridegroom  Service,  Tuesday  evening;	St.
Demetrios  Cathedral,  Astoria,  Unction  Service,  Wednesday evening; Holy
Passion,   Thursday  evening,  St.  Nicholas,  Flushing;  and  Good  Friday
Lamentations   and  Resurrection  services  Saturday  at  the  Archdiocesan
Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Trinity  (319  East 74th St. New York City). Good
Friday	services will begin at 8:00 p.m. and Resurrection Services Saturday
evening at 11:00 p.m.

SERVICES OF HOLY WEEK

The  centuries-old religious services which recall the Passion, Crucifixion
and   Resurrection  of	Christ	are  conducted	each  morning  and  evening
throughout  Holy  Week	in  Orthodox  Christian  Churches of over 6 million
faithful  in  the Americas including, Greek, Russian, Romanian, Antiochian,
Bulgarian, Carpatho-Russian, Albanian, Serbian and Ukrainian parishes.

On PALM SUNDAY during the Divine Liturgy, palms are blessed and distributed
to the faithful commemorating Christ's entrance into Jerusalem.

On PALM SUNDAY EVENING, as well as on the evenings of Holy Monday, Tuesday,
and  Wednesday, the faithful gather for the Nymphios or Bridegroom Services
that  include  readings,  hymns,  and  commemorations  that  anticipate the
Passion of Christ.

On  HOLY  WEDNESDAY,  the  faithful are anointed with the Sacrament of Holy
Unction,   blessed   oil,  which  cleanses,  renews  and  strengthens  both
spiritually and physically.

On  HOLY  THURSDAY MORNING, a Divine Liturgy is held and communion given in
commemoration of the institution of the Eucharist by Christ.

On  HOLY  THURSDAY EVENING, the Service of Holy Passion takes place, during
which  the  Twelve Lessons of the Gospel are read. After the Fifth Gospel a
solemn	litany	begins.  A large crucifix is carried in a procession led by
the clergy as the mournful hymn of Crucifixion is sung.

On  GOOD  FRIDAY  AFTERNOON,  the Vespers of the Descent from the Cross are
offered.  The Body of Christ is taken down from the Cross, wrapped in white
linen and is prepared for burial.

On  GOOD  FRIDAY  EVENING,  the Lamentations are sung during the Epitaphios
Service, which symbolizes the burial of Christ.

On  HOLY  SATURDAY  EVENING,  the  Easter  Resurrection Service begins with
Matins	at  11	p.m. At midnight, the Church is completely darkened and the
faithful  wait in joyous expectation for the Bishop or priest to come forth
carrying  a  white  candle, chanting, Come, Receive the Light, the Light of
the Resurrection.  The light is passed to the congregation until the Church
is  aglow with candlelight. A procession of altar boys, choir, chanters and
clergy	joined by the people move outdoors where the Gospel proclaiming the
Resurrection  of  Christ  is  read.  The  triumphant hymn, Christos Anesti,
Christ	is Risen is joyfully sung by the faithful. At the conclusion of the
Resurrection  Liturgy, red Easter eggs are distributed to the congregation,
which symbolize the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

On  EASTER  SUNDAY, the Vespers of AGAPE  (Love) is celebrated during which
the Holy Gospel narrating the appearance of the Risen Lord to His disciples
is  read  in  several  languages emphasizing the universality of the Gospel
message.

The  Orthodox  date for Easter is based on a decree of the First Ecumenical
Council  of  the  undivided  Church at Nicaea, Asia Minor, held in 325 A.D.
under  Emperor	Constantine  the  Great.  According  to  this  decree,	the
determination  of  the date of Easter is governed by a computation based on
the  vernal  equinox  and  the	phase of the moon. Therefore, Easter Sunday
should	fall  on  the  Sunday,	which follows the first full moon after the
vernal	equinox, according to the Julian Calendar, which was in use at that
time.  If the full moon happens to fall on a Sunday, Easter is observed the
following Sunday.

For more information on the calendar of the Orthodox Church:
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7070.asp

For more information on the Orthodox observance of Holy Week and Pascha:
http://www.goarch.org/en/special/lent/

***************************************
TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE LIST:
Send an email to:
listserv@listserv.goarch.org

In the body of the email simply type:
signoff archdiocese
***************************************

The Archdiocese list is being made possible by the Greek Orthodox 
Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries.