- Date set by the Julian calendar
- Often a week or more after Western Easter
- Christ is risen, He is risen indeed
Where it began
Pascha comes from the Hebrew word for Passover, as the Gospels tell that Jesus died and rose at the time of Passover. Orthodox churches keep the rule from the Council of Nicaea but count using the Julian calendar.
Because of this, Orthodox Easter sometimes falls on the same Sunday as Western Easter, but is often one or more weeks later.
How it grew over time
1st century
The first Christians gather to remember the resurrection.
325 CE
The Council of Nicaea agrees a shared rule for the date.
Medieval period
The Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem and the midnight service of light become central.
Today
Pascha is the main feast in Greece, Russia, Serbia, Romania, Ethiopia and many more lands.
How it is celebrated in different places
Greece and Cyprus
People hold candles lit from the church flame at midnight, then share lamb and red eggs.
Russia and Ukraine
Families bring baskets of kulich bread and paskha to be blessed.
Ethiopia
Called Fasika, it ends a long fast with a night service and a feast.
Jerusalem
Pilgrims gather at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the Holy Fire.
Orthodox Easter moments
Orthodox Easter today
At midnight the church goes dark, then a single flame is shared candle to candle until the whole church glows. People greet each other with Christ is risen, crack red eggs together and break the fast with family.
