On Sunday, April 20, Orthodox believers will celebrate the largest Christian holiday, Christ’s resurrection, also called Pascha. This year, Easter and Western ceremony falls on the same day. Secretary of the Press Department of the Office of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in Slovakia Vasyl Kuzmyk pointed out that Pascha carries the meaning of “transition” from death to life. Is a celebration that believers commemorate The victory of God Iisus Christ Christ over death, sin and despair.
“The light of Christ’s resurrection has penetrated the whole universe. St. John Damascus in the Paschal canon says – “Now everything is filled with light – heaven, earth and underworld, so let the whole creature celebrate Christ’s resurrection “. However, the light of the resurrection is not resembled by the glow of the sun or the stars, it is a personal experience of the presence of God in the life of man, ”says the Orthodox bishops in this year’s holiday message. “It is also necessary to answer our own will. The beneficial light that shone from Christ’s grave is expelled by the darkness of sin from a man’s life if he himself makes an effort to remove evil from his life,” It is spoken in a passing message.
Kuzmyk adds that Paschy celebrations have an exceptional character in the Orthodox tradition. A festive worship, a resurrection of the resurrection, is traditionally held at night from Saturday to Sunday or early morning Easter Sundays and It is characterized by joy, light and singing. Believers with burning candles in their hands bypass the temple, symbolically accompanied by Christ from the grave to life.
During the worship there is a repeated paschal greeting “Christós Voskés!” – “Christos got up from the dead!”, to which believer they answer: “Voistin Waxes!” – “He really got out of the dead!”. With this greeting, the Orthodox Christians of Health throughout 40-day Easter. After the Holy Liturgy follows Blessing of Easter meals – cheese, butter, eggs, meat and traditional cake called Pascha. It is not only a liturgical, but also a family event that connects generations of believers.
“At the moment, the triumph of life is remembered in our prayers at all who are unfairly peeled about the passport joy of war or persecution,” They emphasize bishops. At the same time, they call on that believers do not forget the sick, abandoned or people on the margins of society.
