Feast of feasts

Easter Sunday stands at the center of the Christian faith. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the event that gives meaning to his life, death and teaching. During this Holy Week, I have found time to do some readings on the different ways of celebrating Easter. I read that in Christian theology, the resurrection is not simply a miraculous event but a profound demonstration of divine power and love. The sacrifice that Jesus went through in Calvary would have no sacred meaning if there was no resurrection. In short, the message of Christianity would lose its meaning.

As Paul, though not one of the 12 apostles but known as the “Apostle to the Gentiles,” wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.”

Easter, therefore, is not just an important holy day among many. It is the very heart of the Christian message. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the result of a schism in 1054 that brought about a division of the Catholic Church into an Eastern Church based in Constantinople, now Istanbul, and the western Church based in Rome. Today, the Eastern Orthodox Church remains the second largest Christian Chruch. The word orthodox (“right believing”) has traditionally been used in the Greek-speaking Christian world to designate communities or individuals who preserved the true faith as defined by the first seven ecumenical councils.

For the Orthodox Church, Easter is often called Pascha, derived from the Hebrew Pesach (Passover) which means “passing over” from death to life. Thus, it holds an even deeper and more central place than Christmas. This is the reason that Easter is regarded as the “feast of feasts.” This is because the Resurrection represents the ultimate victory of life over death, light over darkness and hope over despair. The birth of Christ is meaningful because it leads to His work of saving the world, which reaches its fulfillment in the Resurrection. 

In most Christian communities, believers prepare for Easter through a long period of fasting and spiritual reflection known as Lent. This period usually lasts about 40 days and involves prayer, repentance and self-discipline. The purpose of Lent is to prepare believers spiritually to fully experience the joy of the resurrection. It should be noted that the preparation for Christmas, while meaningful, is usually shorter and less intense than that for Easter.

In the Orthodox Church, the celebration of Easter is rich with symbolism and tradition. One of its most solemn moments occurs during the midnight service on Holy Saturday. The Church is initially dark, symbolizing the darkness of the world before the resurrection of Christ. Then, a single flame is shared among the congregation, gradually illuminating the entire church. This act represents the spreading of the light of Christ to the world.

The priest then announces, “Christ is risen” and the congregation responds, “Indeed, he is risen.”

Another important Easter tradition in the Church is the use of red dyed eggs, which symbolize new life and the blood of Christ. In the Orthodox Church, the cracking of these eggs during Easter celebration represents the breaking open of the tomb of Christ. Perhaps the people who participate in the usual Easter egg hunt may not realize the religious significance of the Easter egg.

In the Orthodox Church, feasting plays a major role during Easter as the end of the Lenten fast is marked by abundant food and joyful gathering with family and community. In this way, the Orthodox Easter celebration is similar to the Christmas celebration of the Roman Catholic community.

The reason Easter is often considered more important than Christmas in the Orthodox Church lies in its theological significance. Christmas celebrates the Incarnation, which means God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. Indeed, this is a profound mystery and a cause for great joy. However, the purpose of the Incarnation is fulfilled in the events of Easter. Without the Resurrection, the birth of Christ would not achieve the ultimate purpose of salvation.

The Resurrection is seen as a guarantee that death is not the end and that eternal life is possible. This hope provides comfort in times of suffering and inspires believers to live with faith and courage. 

Christmas has sometimes lost its religious significance and oftentimes celebrated as a cultural and social phenomenon. In fact, it is oftentimes celebrated even by those who do not believe in Christ as our Savior. Therefore, many Christmas celebrations have been overshadowed by commercialism and materialism. 

Easter, especially in the Orthodox tradition, retains a more solemn and deeply spiritual character. It is focused primarily on the core message of Christianity, which makes it a more profound and transformative experience for all true believers. 

It is Easter Sunday that should stand at the center of the Christian faith. In the Orthodox Church, it surpasses Christmas in importance. Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the event that gives meaning to his life, death and teachings. It is not just a day of celebration but a powerful reminder of the promise of eternal life and eternal hope.

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