Orthodox Pascha as a first-time attendee

01 The date question

Orthodox Pascha is calculated using the Julian Computus, the older method of calculating Easter that the Western Christian traditions abandoned with the Gregorian calendar reform in 1582. The two methods follow the same historical principle (Easter as the Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox) but differ in calendrical specifics. The Orthodox date sometimes coincides with the Western Easter; in many years it falls one, four, or five weeks later.

The parish website or the calendar page on this site is the source for the year's specific date.

02 Holy Week

Orthodox Holy Week is one of the most intensive liturgical periods of the year, with services nearly every day and often multiple services per day. Lazarus Saturday (the Saturday before Palm Sunday) commemorates Christ's raising of Lazarus. Palm Sunday celebrates Christ's entrance into Jerusalem. Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday feature Bridegroom Matins services (the parable of the ten virgins and the bridegroom's arrival). Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper; in many parishes the bishop washes the feet of twelve priests or deacons. Holy Friday observes Vespers with the bringing-forth of the Epitaphios (a burial-shroud icon of Christ). Holy Saturday features a Vesperal Liturgy in the morning or early afternoon, then the great anticipation of the Paschal Vigil that evening.

03 The Paschal Vigil

The Paschal Vigil is the principal service of Orthodox Pascha. In most US Orthodox parishes the service begins at approximately 11 PM Holy Saturday and continues until 2-3 AM Pascha Sunday. The service has three principal phases. First, the Paschal Procession: the gathered congregation lights candles and processes around the outside of the church in darkness with the priest carrying the cross. Just before midnight, the priest knocks at the closed church door and proclaims "Christ is risen!" The congregation responds "Truly He is risen!" The door opens and the church, now lit, receives the gathered faithful.

Second, the Paschal Matins: an extended chanted service with the famous "Christ is risen!" exchange repeated throughout, in multiple languages in many US parishes (Greek Christos anesti, Russian Khristos voskrese, Arabic al-Masih qam, English, and others). Third, the Paschal Divine Liturgy, the Eucharistic service proper, culminating in Communion for Orthodox Christians.

04 Attending the Vigil

For a first-time attendee, the Paschal Vigil is the most distinctive Orthodox service of the year. Plan to arrive at the church around 10:30 PM Holy Saturday to find seating and prepare; bring a candle (the parish often provides them; some families bring decorated personal Paschal candles). Dress formally; white or light colors are traditional, though dark formal attire is also appropriate. Expect to stand for substantial portions of the service.

Non-Orthodox guests are welcome to attend the Vigil but are not invited to receive Communion. Following along with the printed program (typically provided in English where parts of the service are in another language) is welcome.

05 The Paschal meal

Following the Vigil, parishes traditionally host a meal in the parish hall. The meal breaks the long Lenten fast that has run through Great Lent and the intensified fast of Holy Week. Traditional Paschal foods include the Greek tsoureki sweet bread, red eggs (a Greek and Slavic tradition symbolizing the blood of Christ and the empty tomb), magiritsa soup (Greek), the Russian kulich bread and paskha dessert, and many regional variants. Non-Orthodox guests are normally welcome at the parish meal; the festive atmosphere is among the most distinctive moments of the Orthodox year.

06 Common questions