In 2023, numerous countries that predominantly practice Orthodox Christianity will commemorate Easter Sunday on a slightly delayed date, whereas the majority of Christian nations will celebrate it today – on April 9th.
So when is the Orthodox Easter, and what is the reason behind its varying date?
Here is all the information you need to be aware of.
The Orthodox Easter of 2022 falls on Sunday, April 16th.
The important dates for Orthodox Easter in 2023 are:
Orthodox Easter can occasionally coincide with Western Easter, as it did in the year 2017.
Eastern Orthodox Christianity also observes Christmas on a subsequent date.
They will not be consuming figgy pudding until Sunday, January 7, 2024.
Why is Orthodox Easter on a different date?
Eastern Christianity acknowledges a distinct date for Easter because it usually adheres to the Julian calendar.
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In 1752, Great Britain made the switch to the Gregorian calendar, which is now extensively utilized by the majority of nations – instead of the Gregorian calendar.
Does this sound familiar? In this calendar year, the fourth year had 366 days, while the other years had 365 days. The Julian Calendar, which was first proposed by Julius Caesar in 46BC, consisted of this calendar year.
Pope Gregory XIII later revised this, and that version eventually became the Gregorian calendar in 1582.
Many Balkan, Middle Eastern, and former Soviet countries, including Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, celebrate Easter at a later date and follow the Julian calendar.
How do people celebrate Orthodox Easter?
Spit-roasted lamb (or ‘souvla’) is frequently included in the Easter menu.
According to the Apostle John, Jesus is called the Lamb of God; hence, eating lamb on this day commemorates his sacrificial death.
‘Tsoureki’ is recognized as a sweet loaf occasionally baked in these shapes, symbolizing the blood from Christ’s tomb; individuals also dye their eggs crimson. Moreover, numerous individuals partake in this tradition.
The church is undoubtedly a significant component of the festivities, with numerous individuals participating in services, commencing from Good Friday.
The Friday services are more solemn as church bells chime and flags flutter at half-mast to symbolize Christ’s crucifixion.
In contrast to Western Christianity, the ‘Holy Saturday’ ceremony is arguably the most significant.
They buy many candles, which they take home. This takes place around midnight and is followed by joyous church bells, crackers, and fireworks to mark the resurrection of Christ.
The festivities commence here on Sunday, preceding the customary soup, Magiritsa, consisting of lamb, rice, and dill, which marks the end of the 40-day fast for numerous individuals.