PHOTOS: HAPPY GREEK EASTER!! (Easter bread, red eggs, church of st. minas)

 
HAPPY GREEK EASTER!!
PHOTO:  Greek Easter bread
 
PHOTO:  Church of St. Minas


 
The crowded church is fragrant with the smell of beeswax and incense.

Lithuanian Easter Eggs
"I always know when Easter is approaching because the Greece for Visitors mailbox starts filling up with questions like: "When is Greek Easter?" In 2013, it's on May 5th- and here are the dates through 2023 for those who really like planning their trips to Greece in advance.



"Are Greek Easter and Western Easter celebrated on the same day?" Sometimes. You can find out when they coincide here.
Reader Amy I. just asked, "How is Greek Easter calculated?" This is the fun one - the day is governed by these three main conditions:

It must be based on the Julian calendar, not the Gregorian calendar;
It must be after the Jewish holiday of Passover;
It must be on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, which for this purpose is fixed as March 21st.

The basic reason for the difference between the two Easters is that "Western" Easter uses a different set of calculations based on the current Gregorian calendar created by Pope Gregory
instead of the ancient Julian one, first used under the Roman emperor Julian. Under the Gregorian system, Easter can actually be in March, something that will not happen with the Julian-based method of calculating Easter.
If you missed Easter in Greece, the observance of Pentecost offers some nice events and ceremonies at a more tourist-friendly time of year.
There will be church ceremonies and on many islands and in small towns open feasts with special foods and celebrations.
The Greek island of Milos is noted for its Pentecost observances, and some Greek travel agents arrange special trips to the island at this time of year. As with many Greek religious events, the previous evening is the most vivid for the visitor."

Red eggs (in Greek: kokkina avga, κκκινα αυγ, pronounced KOH-kee-nah ahv-GHAH) are perhaps the brightest symbol of Greek Easter, representing the blood of Christ and rebirth. We also dye eggs other colors, but rarely will a Greek Easter be celebrated without lots of red eggs. Commercial dyes are available, but this old-fashioned natural method creates red eggs with a deep rich color. The following is for one dozen red eggs. Note: It may sound counterintuitive, but the skins of yellow onions work wonderfully!
Easter season is the most significant and sacred time of the Orthodox Church calendar. Orthodox Easter consists of a series of celebrations (movable feasts) commemorating the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the spiritual preparations begin with
Great Lent, a 40-day period of self-examination and fasting
(including Sundays), which starts on Clean Monday and culminates on Lazarus Saturday. Clean Monday falls seven weeks before Easter Sunday. The term "Clean Monday" refers to a cleansing from sinful attitudes through the Lenten fast. Lazarus Saturday occurs eight days before Easter Sunday and signifies the end of Great Lent.
Next comes Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, commemorating the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, followed by Holy Week, which ends on Easter Sunday, or Pascha.
Fasting continues throughout Holy Week. Many Orthodox churches observe a Paschal Vigil which ends just before midnight on Holy Saturday (or Great Saturday), the last day of Holy Week on the evening before Easter.   Immediately following the vigil, Easter festivities begin with Paschal Matins, Paschal Hours, and the Paschal Divine Liturgy.   Paschal Matins is an early morning prayer service or part of an all-night prayer vigil.   Paschal Hours is a brief, chanted prayer service, reflecting the joy of Easter.   And Paschal Divine Liturgy is a communion or Eucharist service. These are the first celebrations of Christ's resurrection and are considered the most important services of the ecclesiastical year.
After the Eucharist service, the fast is broken and the feasting begins.
Orthodox Easter Hymn:  This same phrase, "Christos Anesti," (in Greek) is the title of a traditional Orthodox Easter hymn sung during Easter services in celebration of Jesus Christ’s glorious resurrection. Enhance your Easter worship with these words to the treasured Easter hymn, in the Greek language, including the transliteration, and words in English.
Greek Orthodox Christians traditionally break the Lenten fast after the midnight Resurrection Service. Customary foods are lamb and Tsoureki Paschalino, a sweet Easter dessert bread.
After Easter Sunday services, Serbian Orthodox families traditionally begin the feasting with appetizers of smoked meats and cheeses, boiled eggs and red wine.