In the Greek Orthodox tradition, Easter is the single most important festivity. It has deep religious — as well as cultural — significance. Many Orthodox religious holidays are interrelated with secular Greek cultural events, a reminder of the significant role Orthodoxy has traditionally played in the lives of Greek people. Since the early days of Christianity, Greece has warmly welcomed and embraced its beliefs.

If Greeks had not adopted these Christian beliefs, the continuation of Christianity to the present day would have been difficult given the vast changes in the historical landscape across the ages.

The most significant challenge to the Greek Orthodox religious tradition was the occupation of Greece and other Eastern European countries by the Ottoman Empire that continued for 400 years until the early 19^th century. It is a remarkable achievement that the beliefs, culture, religious values, language and the Hellenic identity survived four centuries of suppression and tyranny.

Easter (or Pascha) celebrations were first reported in the second century, during the Apostolic Period. The date of the Greek Orthodox Easter is based on the Julian calendar, in contrast to Easter for the rest of the Western Christian world, which is celebrated based on Gregorian calendar dates. Easter celebrations for the Greek Orthodox faithful begin two months before during the carnival season, or Mardi Gras.

Ash Monday, also known as Kathari Deftera (Clean Monday), is the official day when Lent begins in preparation for Easter. Kathari Deftera is a day of fun, happiness and family activity. All people in Greece, regardless of their age, enjoy the parks and countryside, flying kites and having picnics. The food is simple, but traditional for the day, and includes: taramosalata (fish roe dip), dolmades (rice stuffed vine leaves), calamari, octopus, salads, rice pilaf with mussels, lagana (yeast-less bread) and halvas (semolina pudding). These dishes are symbolic of Clean Monday and the beginning of the Lenten period.

“The Great Fast” or Lent also is known as Holy and Great Forty Day or Agia kai Megali Tessarakosti. Many faithful fast throughout the forty days or for a shorter period of time. The core of the Great Fast is the “Great Week,” or Megali Evdomada. Each day of the Megali Evdomada is dedicated to the events that took place during the last week of Jesus’ life: The Mystical Supper, Crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection of Christ are the most significant elements. The Hymns of Megali Evdomada and Pascha are composed with a poetic and spiritual depth conveyed in truly inspirational and melodic music.

Just one week before Pascha is Palm Sunday. Churches offer palm leaves to remind us of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem before the Great Week of The Passion. In Greece, a few days before the Great Week, homes traditionally undergo a deep spring cleaning, which is a symbolic extension of the forty-day fasting and spiritual journey. Clean homes and clean souls are interconnected in the Greek culture and are an integral part of preparations for Glorious Pascha.

On Holy Tuesday, we witness the singing of a remarkable hymn, Troparion of St. Kassiani. St. Kassiani washed Jesus’ feet with myrrh, transforming her sinful life to a life of faith, so she was granted forgiveness. Today, we witness the centuries-old ritual in main towns and parks on the island of Patmos, where masses of faithful travel to be part of the ritual. The feet of the Disciples are washed, and the pilgrims, too, receive forgiveness.

On Holy Wednesday, the faithful are anointed with the Holy Oil of forgiveness. Holy Thursday is the Last Supper, also called Red Thursday because eggs are dyed in a red color, which symbolizes the blood of Christ, and tsourekia (sweet buns resembling brioche) are baked in every household. In the old days, the first egg was placed on the home icon-stand to keep away evil spirits. Also, on Holy Thursday in the parishes we celebrate a Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. Two Eucharistic lambs are prepared. One is used for that service while the other is set aside in an artofion. The Reserve Sacrament in the Tabernacle is consumed at the end of the service, so that the Tabernacle is empty for Holy Friday. The extra Eucharistic lamb, after it has been dried and prepared, is then put in the Tabernacle for the next year (and used for communion of the sick and other emergencies).

Holy Friday is devoted to recalling the suffering and death of Christ, and it is the most sacred day of the week. In Greece, this is a national mourning day, and church bells ring a sad, monotonous toll. Every year, retail shops and businesses are either closed or open for a half-day, flags are lowered in governmental buildings and women dress in black. The flower-themed decoration of the Bier of Christ (Epitaph) represents his body, and all faithful pay respects to his glory.

Holy Saturday is the day of the resurrection of Christ, also called the Saturday of Lazarous, and it is the last day of Lent. On the Ionian island of Corfu (Kerkira) it is part of the Easter tradition to throw pots with water out of the windows, smashing them onto the streets, or to hang red cloth in the windows (red is the color of resurrection). On Holy Saturday, people around the country gather at churches at 11:00 p.m., all dressed well for the occasion, holding their Lambada or a large candle to receive the Holy Light. At the end of the liturgy, family members take the Holy Light back to their homes so their homes may be filled with Christ’s light and warmth. At midnight, the church bells toll harmoniously and everybody says to one another, “Christ is Risen” (“Christos Anesti”), and “Truly He is Risen” (“Alithos Anesti”). People crack their red eggs, a gesture that’s symbolic of Christ emerging from the tomb. The forty days or less of fasting end with a communion, and after the Resurrection Liturgy the traditional magiritsa — a creamy, lemon soup made with meat entrails — is served.

The triumph of the Easter celebration takes place on Easter Sunday, and it is truly a feast! Families, friends and neighbors gather to enjoy each other’s company, a day of rich food and music. The traditional Easter meat is roast lamb (served in honor of the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed and rose again on Easter) over charcoal fire with baked potatoes and Greek country salad. A large variety of appetizers, pies, meats, vegetables dishes and wine also are on the Easter table. The tradition continues with breaking red eggs, tsourekia, homemade honey-dipped sweets and festive music. It is not unusual to see people joyfully dancing to favorite folklore songs holding hands and moving in circles with perfect symmetry.

Easter celebrations are etched deep in the memory of every person from all age groups in Greece. Rituals of the week of The Passion are embedded in people’s hearts and households, the media and public places. During the week of The Passion, symbolic ceremonies in churches and homes are strong reminders of Jesus’ suffering. Easter Sunday festivities are traditions that have been embraced by Hellenes from Apostolic years forward, and they still are honored until today, totally unaffected by historic changes. Greek Orthodox Easter has been an authentic religious, cultural and family celebration for 2,000 years!

Dear Goneis Readers, please take into consideration some observations while you are reading the article "Greek Orthodox Easter:  2000 Years of Authentic Celebration" in spring issue 2008.

Carnival or Mardi Gras, these events aren't Orthodox events, but we are celebrating  "Apokreas" in our Hellenic Culture, as the article “Carnival Celebration with Ancient Flair…!” described in the Fall-Winter Issue 2007. “Ash” Monday and the practice of giving “Ashes” is a Western Christian Tradition. In Orthodox Church is simply Clean Monday or Kathara Deutera (as mentioned in the article). St. Kassiani was a very pious nun.  She wrote the hymn describing the sinful woman washing the feet of Jesus. She was not the sinful woman. On Holy Saturday we commemorate Christ's descent into hades. The day of the Resurrection is Easter Sunday and the Saturday of Lazarus is the previous Saturday (the day before Palm Sunday). Holy Saturday is not the last day of Lent. Lent is 40 days from Clean Monday to the day before Saturday of Lazarus.  Holy Week is separate. Thank you, Father Nicholas, for your kind observations.

 Photo Credit: istockphoto.com/Vaskoni