Please explain the difference between Orthodox and Roman Catholic Easter.
Hegumen Ambrose (Ermakov) answers:
According to established church tradition, according to the rule of the First Ecumenical Council of 325, Christian Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Due to the disproportion between solar and lunar cycles, with which it is compared, the date of the holiday shifts along the time scale over the years, ranging from March 22 to April 25 according to the Julian calendar. For almost every year it is determined by calculation.
The Julian calendar, which is used by the Orthodox Church, is based on the solar-lunar reporting system, resulting in a year that is 11 minutes 14 seconds longer than the astronomical year. Because of this, the day of the solar equinox, which was March 21 in 325, moved ten days back by the end of the sixteenth century, that is, to March eleventh.
Dissatisfied with this shift and the fact that Easter could have “fluctuations” in the day of celebration every year, the Roman Catholic Church in 1582 carried out a reform and introduced the so-called Gregorian calendar named after Pope Gregory XIII, the meaning of which boiled down to the transition exclusively to solar system report. Specifically, the reform was expressed in the fact that the calendar in 1582 was mechanically moved forward ten days, that is, the vernal equinox again became March 21.
This desire for accuracy turned out to be unjustified in the light of the Gospel events, since in the Gregorian calendar the Christian Easter sometimes occurs together with the Jewish one or even earlier. In particular, from 1851 to 1951, Catholic Easter occurred 15 times before Jewish Easter. According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, this is considered unacceptable: Easter should always be celebrated after the Jewish Passover, for the Lord rose on the first Sunday after it.
In practice, Catholic Easter usually occurs a week or two earlier than Orthodox Easter, and coincides with it three times every 19 years. We recommend you the book “The Calendar Question,” published by the Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, which covers this problem in detail.
Every year, Jews celebrate Passover, a holiday that commemorates the chain of events during which the Jews left Egypt. In 2018, it is celebrated from the evening of March 30 to April 7. Happy Passover congratulated President of Russian Jews, noting that the holiday “turns believers to the enduring spiritual and moral values of Judaism, the ideals of goodness and justice.”
According to the Torah and the Bible, the family of Jacob-Israel, the ancestor of the Jews, left Canaan (now a territory divided between Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan) due to famine and moved to Egypt. The Israelites lived there for 430 years, during which time their numbers increased significantly, exceeding the number of the Egyptians. The new pharaoh, fearing conflicts with the Jews, ordered them to be exhausted with hard work in the hope of curbing the growth of their numbers. However, this did not help. Then Pharaoh ordered the killing of newborn Israeli boys.
At this time, the future Jewish prophet Moses was born, and his mother, saving the baby, put him in a tarred basket and launched him along the waters of the Nile. The baby was found by the pharaoh's daughter and taken into her home.
As Moses grew older, he once encountered a taskmaster who was beating an Israelite. In anger, Moses killed the overseer and, fearing punishment, fled Egypt. He settled in the lands of the Midianites, a semi-nomadic people who lived in the Sinai Peninsula and northwest Arabia from Moab (west of Jordan) in the north to the Red Sea in the south. There he married the daughter of a local chief and priest and began herding cattle.
One day, while Moses was tending his flock, he saw a thorn bush that was burning, but was not consumed. When Moses approached the bush, God called to him from the burning bush, calling to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land - Canaan. When Moses returned to Egypt and demanded that Pharaoh release the Israelites, he refused. Then God sent ten plagues to Egypt - first, all the water in the Nile and other reservoirs and containers turned into blood, then Egypt was filled with toads, hordes of midges, “dog flies” (probably gadflies). Livestock died out, the bodies of the Egyptians were covered with ulcers and boils, a hail of fire fell on Egypt, hordes of locusts destroyed all the vegetation, then darkness fell on Egypt. And finally, all the firstborn died overnight - from the son of Pharaoh to the cattle.
It should be noted that all these events theoretically could have taken place in history and have a completely scientific basis - the “executions” could have been triggered by a bloom of Physteria algae, which led to a characteristic reddening of the water, and the toxins emitted by them caused the death of fish and a mass exodus of toads, the population of which increased sharply, as the fish stopped eating eggs. Due to the rotting of the fish, flies appeared that carried an infection that caused the death of livestock. The "hail of fire" was caused by a volcanic eruption, to which there are other references in the Bible. The darkness was the result of a sandstorm or volcanic eruption. Children and livestock apparently died due to a toxic fungus brought by locusts affecting grain supplies. According to tradition, the eldest sons ate first - they got a portion of the toxic grain. Among the livestock, older, stronger animals made their way to the feeder, which led to the same effect.
Also, according to the Torah and the Bible, the executions did not affect the Jews. This is explained by the fact that the Jews settled far from large Egyptian cities and, firstly, had independent food supplies, and, secondly, ate mainly meat and milk.
Ancient legends, however, offer a different explanation. According to them, before the last execution, God commanded the Jews to slaughter lambs, fry their meat, and mark them with blood door jambs. Hence the name of the holiday: Passover is derived from “passover,” which is translated from Hebrew as “to pass by.”
The word “Easter” came to Christianity through the Aramaic “piskha”. From Aramaic the name came into Greek, then into Latin, and then spread into European languages.
Although Christian Easter has the same roots, the meaning of the holiday is very different. While Passover is celebrated as the liberation of Jews from slavery, Easter is associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The New Testament describes the Last Supper, the last meal of Christ with his twelve closest disciples, during which he predicted the betrayal of one of them and established the main sacrament of the Christian faith, the Eucharist - the rite of consecration of bread and wine and their subsequent consumption. They symbolize the flesh and blood of Christ.
He was soon crucified.
In the Christian understanding, just as God freed the Jews from slavery in Egypt, so the Christian is freed from the slavery of sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Judaism and Christianity differ in the calculation of the date when Passover and Easter begin. Passover begins on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan according to the Jewish calendar - approximately in March-April according to the Gregorian calendar. The entire Jewish calendar is based on the determination of the first new moon, which, according to Jewish calculations, took place on Monday, October 7, 3761 BC. e. The Jewish calendar is lunisolar, so each calendar date always falls not only on the same season of the year, but also on the same phase of the moon. There are also six different year lengths, ranging from 353 to 385 days. Months begin only on the new moon, Passover always begins on the full moon at the beginning of spring.
The date of Easter in the Orthodox tradition is determined in accordance with the Seventh Apostolic Rule (“If any bishop or presbyter or deacon celebrates the holy day of Easter before the vernal equinox with the Jews, let him be deposed from the sacred rank”), the rule of the First Ecumenical Council of 325 in the city Nicea (“It was considered expedient that this holiday should be celebrated by everyone on the same day everywhere... And truly, first of all, it seemed to everyone extremely unworthy that in the celebration of this most holy celebration we should adhere to the custom of the Jews...") and the First Rule of Antioch local council on the time of celebrating Easter.
In 1054, the Orthodox and Catholic churches finally separated.
The tradition of calculating the date of Easter in Orthodoxy that had developed by that time was described in the “Alphabetical Syntagma” of the Byzantine canonist Matthew Blastar: “Regarding our Easter, it is necessary to pay attention to four decrees, two of which are contained in the apostolic rule, and two originate from unwritten tradition. First, we should celebrate Easter after the spring equinox. Second, do not celebrate with the Jews on the same day. Third, celebrate not just after the equinox, but after the first full moon, which occurs after the equinox. And fourth - after the full moon, no other than on the first day of the week (that is, on Sunday).”
In 1583, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new Paschal, called the Gregorian. As a result, the entire calendar changed. In response to this, the Definition of the Council of Constantinople of 1583 was adopted, which reads: “Whoever follows the Gregorian Paschal of godless astronomers, let him be anathema - excommunicated from the Church and the assembly of the faithful.”
Thus, the Protestant and Orthodox churches decided not to be guided by the calendar “proposals” of the pope, while other Catholic countries introduced the Gregorian calendar over several centuries. Currently, Western Christendom follows the Gregorian calendar, and Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
As a result, Catholic Easter is often celebrated earlier than Jewish Easter or on the same day as it, and in some years precedes Orthodox Easter by more than a month, which is contrary to Orthodox tradition.
Easter traditions are also different among Jews, Catholics and Orthodox Christians. So, during the holiday, Jews have a ban on food prepared as a result of fermentation (chametz - “leavened”). Before Passover, all stocks of leaven in the house are liquidated. On the morning before Passover, the fast of the first-born men begins in memory of the tenth plague of Egypt and the salvation of the Jewish first-born. The main event of the holiday is the Seder, Passover evening. In ancient times, a lamb was sacrificed on Passover, the meat of which was fried and eaten with unleavened flatbread (matzo) and bitter herbs. Subsequently, sacrifices were no longer carried out, and the sacrifice was symbolized by meat, which was not eaten, but participated in the ritual.
During the seder, Jews read the Passover Haggadah, a collection of prayers, songs and commentaries on the Torah related to the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. They also drink four cups of wine or grape juice. The meal ends with "afikoman", a special dish that was previously the meat of a sacrificed lamb, and now a piece of matzo, broken off at the beginning of the seder. The Seder was the Last Supper.
For Orthodox Christians, colored eggs have become one of the traditional Easter treats.
This custom dates back to the time of Emperor Tiberius. According to legend, when she came to Rome to preach the Gospel, she presented him with the first Easter egg with the words “Christ is Risen.” The unbelieving emperor exclaimed: “This is as incredible as if an egg turned red.” After his words, the egg turned red. There is another version of the story: drops of the blood of the crucified Christ fell to the ground, turned to stone, and took the form of chicken eggs. And the hot tears of the Mother of God left traces on them in the form of patterns. Symbolically easter eggs represent resurrection, as a new being is born from an egg.
In the Catholic tradition, colored eggs are also common. Also in many European countries, a popular Easter character has become the rabbit, which brings Easter eggs. The explanation for this goes deep into paganism - according to legend, the pagan goddess of spring Estra turned a bird into a hare, but he continued to lay eggs (that’s why Easter is called Easter in some languages). Another explanation for this phenomenon is more mundane: when children went to collect eggs from the chicken coop on Easter morning, they often found rabbits nearby.
On March 27, 2016, Catholics, Protestants and believers of the Armenian Orthodox Church celebrate Easter. Easter is the holiday of the Holy Resurrection of Christ. The first Passover was celebrated by the ancient Jews 1500 years before the birth of Christ, in connection with the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt under the leadership of the prophet Moses. The Old Testament Passover marked the deliverance of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery, and the word “Passover” in ancient Hebrew means “exodus”, “deliverance”. The New Testament, Christian Easter was established by the apostles shortly after the death on the cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and was filled with new meaning. This is a celebration of victory over death.
Representatives of different religious denominations live in Crimea. What are the differences between celebrating Armenian Orthodox Easter, Catholic and Russian Orthodox Easter? Let's figure it out.
Armenian Easter.
The Armenian Church is one of the oldest Christian communities. In 301, Armenia became the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion. For many centuries there has been no church unity between us, but this does not interfere with the existence of good neighborly relations. At a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Russia O.E. Yesayan, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted:
“Our relations go back centuries... The closeness of our spiritual ideals, the common moral and spiritual value system in which our peoples live are a fundamental component of our relations.”
Interesting thing: In 2017, Armenian Easter - Zatik - will be celebrated on April 16 together with representatives of all Christian denominations - Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants and Armenian Christians. Such a coincidence happens extremely rarely. For comparison, the last time there was a “common Easter day” was in 2011.
The traditions of calculating the dates of holidays in the Armenian Apostolic Church are very interesting. Here the decision is made by representatives of the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Etchmiadzin. Every year before the holiday, special calendars are sent from this city, where specific dates are specified. This denomination uses the Gregorian calendar, and Armenian Easter often coincides with the Catholic one.
Armenian Easter is called Zatik, which means “liberation” and “purification.” The holiday symbolizes deliverance from sins and return to God. On this day, Armenians greet each other with the words “Christ has risen from the dead - blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.” One of ancient traditions that have survived to the present day is considered to be the "Aklatiz" doll, decorated with 49 stones and onions. This Easter attribute symbolizes good luck for home and family. An unusual tradition in Armenia was the blessing of trees on Easter. Elderly Armenian women blessed trees with candles in their hands on Easter morning. In pre-Christian times, it was customary to perform a ritual of sacrifice on this day. A young lamb or rooster was boiled all night and then distributed to the poor and needy. On Easter in Armenia traditional dish now there is pilaf and colored eggs. Previously, Spitak banjar was served on this day. According to legend, the Holy Mother of God wrapped Jesus Christ in the leaves of this plant. Also, on Easter, Armenian housewives usually treat them to kutap - this is dough with baked greens or beans with fried onions, also auik (wheat flatbread) and ahar (boiled lamb or rooster).
Traditional holiday treats
IN ancient times in Armenia on Easter, after the Easter dinner, the cheerful celebration continued in nature with various games, horse races and bonfires. And, of course, on this day, according to custom, colored eggs were broken in competition. Armenians painted eggs even before the adoption of Christianity, and they still do so now. Red color means the light of the sun.
Today, in all Armenian churches, divine sharakans - ancient spiritual verses - are heard. But the main liturgy in honor of the onset of Easter takes place in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Monday is a day off in Armenia. On All Souls' Day, people traditionally visit the graves of their loved ones.
Interesting thing: The Orthodox Church determines the date of Easter on the first Sunday after the vernal equinox and the following full moon. One more condition is strictly observed: Easter for the Orthodox should not coincide with the Jewish one. This norm is enshrined in a special decision of the Ecumenical Councils. The day of the Jewish Passover is calculated in accordance with the lunar calendar, so sometimes coincidences occur. But for the Orthodox tradition such a coincidence is unacceptable, but for Catholics it is allowed. When the days of celebration for Orthodox and Catholics coincide, Easter takes place in both faiths without postponement. Protestants also base their calculations on the Gregorian calendar, so their Easter often coincides with the Catholic one. And such Orthodox churches as Romanian, Greek, Bulgarian are guided by the neo-Julian calendar. He dictates the conditions for determining most holidays according to the Gregorian calendar, and some (for example, Easter) according to the Julian calendar.
Catholic Easter.
In European languages, the word "Easter" is one of the variants of the Latin Pascha, which, in turn, goes back to the Hebrew pesach (transition, exodus from Egypt). The Jewish Passover, dedicated to the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery, was in the eyes of Christians a prototype of the redemption of humanity from sin, the memory of which the Christian Passover is dedicated to. The Germans call Easter Ostern, as do the British - Easter, that is, after the name of the ancient German goddess of spring Eostro (Ostara). Thus, Christians timed their main holiday to coincide with celebrations of the revival of life after winter. Roman Catholic Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the vernal equinox and the first full moon after that. This order was defined in the early Christian church and is still followed today. In our time, the days of Catholic and Orthodox Easter do not coincide for the reason that the Russian Orthodox Church continues to calculate chronology in accordance with the ancient Julian calendar.
IN Orthodox churches The Easter service - a light and joyful celebration - begins exactly at midnight. After the end of the service, Orthodox Christians “share Christ.” This is the name of the custom of greeting each other with a kiss and the words: “Christ is risen!” Catholics celebrate Easter, beginning with a special Saturday prayer at Easter Eve. Then early Sunday morning there is a Resurrection - a religious procession and Holy Mass. There is no tradition of breaking the fast in this denomination, since Catholics do not have a long fast like abstinence in food. Believers should abstain from eating meat only on Friday. Catholic fasting is of a spiritual nature; during it you need to pray more, do more good deeds, and give up bad habits and wild fun. The symbol of the Easter holiday is colored eggs. The custom of dyeing eggs is widespread everywhere. Western European Catholics prefer red eggs without ornament; in Central Europe (Poles, Slovaks) they paint them using a variety of techniques. Priests bless eggs in the homes of parishioners on Saturday along with other ritual food. On the evening of Holy Saturday, all churches serve an all-night vigil. In the morning, returning home, everyone breaks their fast, first of all with eggs. Hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and omelettes are the most important ritual Easter food. Prepare and meat dishes, as well as rich bread.
Traditions of celebrating Easter in different countries Europe.
In Italy, they bake a “dove” on Easter; in Eastern Poland, on Easter morning they eat okroshka, which is poured over with water and vinegar, as a symbol of Christ’s Friday suffering on the Cross. And in Poland there is a custom called oblewany ponedzialek - on Monday after Easter, boys and girls pour water on each other. All over Europe, housewives place colorful eggs, toy chickens, and chocolate bunnies in wicker baskets on young grass. These baskets remain on the table by the door throughout Easter week. In Ecuador, fanseco is a soup made from 12 types of grains - they symbolize the 12 apostles, cod, peanuts and milk. In England, Easter hot cross buns must be cut with a cross on top before baking. In Portugal, on Sunday, the priest walks through the sparkling clean houses of parishioners, spreading Easter blessings, where he is treated to blue and pink jelly beans, chocolate eggs, cookies and a glass of port. On the morning of Easter Sunday, after the service, children and youth go around houses with songs and congratulations, similar to Christmas carols. Among Easter entertainments, the most popular are games with colored eggs: they are thrown at each other, rolled on an inclined plane, broken, scattering the shells.
Why is the Easter bunny used as a symbol of Catholic Easter?
The symbol of Catholic Easter is also the Easter bunny, which, according to legend, delivers Easter gift baskets and hides eggs painted the day before. In Catholic countries, on the eve of Easter, the hare is very popular - it is printed on postcards and chocolate bunnies are made. The explanation for this goes deep into paganism. According to legend, the pagan goddess of spring, Estra, turned the bird into a hare, but it continued to lay eggs. Another explanation for this phenomenon is simpler - when children went to collect eggs from the chicken coop on Easter morning, they often found rabbits nearby.
Jewish Passover.
For the entire Jewish people, Passover is the most important and significant day of the year. Many great actions are associated with it, in particular the liberation of the Jews from Egyptian slavery, which occurred in the mid-13th century BC. The history of Passover (Pesach) dates back to the distant past, to the days when, according to the biblical scriptures, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. This happened on the 14th day of the month of Nisan, when on the night before the last harsh execution all the babies of Egypt were killed, except for the Jewish ones. The execution bypassed their homes, because the doors were marked with the blood of sacrificial lambs. After this terrible act, Moses undertook to lead the Jewish people outside the Egyptian lands. The holiday was named in honor of the greatest salvation of the people of Israel and in honor of the fact that trouble passed them by at home. Translated from Hebrew, “Pesach” means “to pass by, pass by, or go around.” It is symbolic that the celebration of Passover falls precisely on the 14th day of the month of Nisan, according to the Jewish lunar calendar. There is a slight difference in the number of days when people treat and praise this celebration. For example, in Israel itself it lasts 7 days, and outside it - 8 days. In 2016, Easter celebrations will begin on April 22 and end on April 30. A long-established tradition says that all Jews begin to celebrate Passover after the sun hides its last ray below the horizon.
Traditions of the Jewish Passover: on the eve of the holiday, everything leavened - flour dishes, based on yeast - is collected in houses and burned at the stake. It is worth noting that during the entire period when Jews honor Passover, they do not eat leavened products, as well as those that can ferment. Before the start of the holiday, it is customary to collect “meot hittim”. This means that Jews collect funds for metzah flour, which they then distribute to the poor. Metzo is unleavened flatbread that is baked without the use of yeast. This pastry symbolizes the bread that the Jews grabbed in a hurry when they secretly left Egypt. On the first and seventh days of the celebration it is forbidden to do business, but on the remaining days it is allowed to do minor work. Jews usually call the first two days and the first night Yom Tov, which means “good and festive day.” During this period, all synagogues in the country hold a service in which they praise the dew, and also thank God by reading the Hallel psalms.
The Jewish Passover itself in 2016 begins from the moment that in the evening, the 14th of Nisan, families gathered at the table begin to read the Seder Korban Pesach (Passover sacrifice ceremony). This gathering, during which the family eats food laid out on the table, is called Seder, and is held on the first and second nights of the holiday in a certain order. While eating, you need to read the Haggad prayer, which tells how the Israelites fled from Egypt. During the Seder, everyone must drink 4 glasses of wine, and there must be chicken egg and a chicken wing (in honor of the sacrificial lamb), four matzahs (more is possible), a thicket of salt water (symbolizing the tears of all Israelite slaves), any bitter herb (celery, maror), charoset. It is customary to invite all the needy and poor people to dinner, and at the end of the meal, open the doors wide open, thereby beginning the “night of vigil” for all the “sons of Israel.” On the last day of celebrating Passover, which is associated with the crossing of the Jewish people across the Red Sea, synagogues begin to read Hazkarat Neshamot. In addition, there is a long tradition when the Israelis come to the river and recite a passage from the Torah.
Why shouldn't Easter and Passover coincide?
The Church has clearly defined that the celebration of Christian Easter should not fall on the day of the celebration of Jewish Passover. This should be due to the fact that the Resurrection of Christ itself occurred after the people of Israel left Egypt, and therefore after the occurrence of Passover. In order to accurately observe the chronology of the Gospel events, the following order was established for honoring these holidays. Until now, of course, there are disputes about the coincidence of all these great days, but the clergy are confident that it would be extremely illogical to contradict the events indicated in the Gospel and set the wrong date for the most important Christian holiday.
Orthodox Easter.
The Orthodox Church recognizes two types of holidays: non-transitionable and transferable. The first are celebrated every year on the same day, without changing the date or month. There is no specific date set for moving holidays; it is calculated every year according to certain criteria. The main moving holiday, on which the dates of the beginning of Lent, Pentecost, Ascension and other church events depend, is Easter. Before the Resurrection of Christ, it is customary to restore order in all houses and courtyards. This tradition is especially relevant on Maundy Thursday. On this day you need to swim at dawn to wash away all sins and evil thoughts. Then there is a trip to church service. Before Easter, you need to bake Easter cakes. Previously, every housewife had her own secret recipe, which she kept secret. A properly made product can be stored for up to forty days. Today, on store shelves there are a lot of Easter sprinkles, figurines, and decorations that make the process of making Easter cakes easier and add a creative touch to it.
Another necessary attribute, without which Easter is not complete in any family, is krashanka. Most traditional method Coloring eggs is done by placing them in water with onion skins. This operation gives the eggs a rich red-brown hue. There are also many other ways: food coloring, stickers, wax painting. There are masters who create entire paintings on egg shells. Krashanki are not only made for consumption, they are exchanged with each other as sacred gifts. When all the holiday components are ready, you can begin to form the Easter basket. Easter cakes, krashankas and all the products that one would like to consecrate go into it. On Saturday evening, all believers, dressed up and with Easter baskets, go to church for the All-Night Vigil. In 2016, Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on May 1.
Along with this read:
The Holy Resurrection of Christ is the most important and most revered holiday in the Christian world. However, there are some differences in the Orthodox and Catholic traditions of celebrating Easter, which relate, first of all, to the date of the event itself.
As many people know, most often the days of celebrating Catholic and Orthodox Easter do not coincide. This issue has a long history.
Initially, all Christians celebrated Easter on the same day, following the Jewish calendar. Date of Light Christ's Resurrection fell on March, which in Jewish tradition was considered the first month of the year. However, already in the second century AD, a separate day was allocated for the celebration of Christian Easter. Nevertheless, discrepancies and contradictions within the Christian church continued: the clergy used different systems for calculating Easter day, therefore it was necessary to find a special methodology that would lead the Christian church to uniformity.
This was done at the Council of Nicaea: in the fourth century it was decided that Easter should be celebrated on the Sunday following the full moon after the Spring Equinox. Until 1582, the dates of the celebration of Catholic and Orthodox Easter coincided. However, in that year, the Catholic Church adopted the Gregorian calendar, while the Orthodox Church continued to follow the Julian calendar. This is where the difference in dates came from. However, sometimes Orthodox and Catholic celebrations still coincide.
This is exactly what will happen in 2017: both Orthodox and Catholic Easter are celebrated on the same day - April 16. The next time such a coincidence will occur only in 8 years - in 2025.
What are the differences and similarities between Catholic and Orthodox Easter?
There are no significant differences in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions of celebration. There are only some nuances that are unique to the Western or Russian church.
Believers of both faiths observe Lent. The essence of fasting is the same: it is a time of moral and physical cleansing, preparing body and soul for the meeting of the Great Resurrection of Christ. However, the length of fasting varies somewhat: the Catholic fast lasts 6 weeks and 4 days, while the Orthodox fast for exactly seven weeks.
The degree of severity of abstinence also varies. The Orthodox Church prohibits any food of animal origin. Sometimes - on major holidays - the consumption of fish products is allowed. Maximum food restrictions occur during the Holy Week of Lent.
Catholic tradition requires adherence to strict asceticism only on the day the fast begins, Good Friday and Holy Saturday - the eve of Easter. Most of the time, eating meat is prohibited, but dairy products and eggs are allowed. This relaxation was introduced relatively recently - in the second half of the twentieth century.
The features of the festive Easter service are also similar in the Catholic and Orthodox churches. For example, in both traditions a religious procession is required. However, the Orthodox perform it before the liturgy, and the Catholics - after. The same applies to the kindling of the Holy Fire. As a rule, Orthodox Christians expect fire from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The clergy spread the arriving fire to all the churches of the city, and the believers light their candles from it.
In the Catholic Church, before the start of the Easter service, a special candle called “Easter” is lit, from which the fire is distributed to the parishioners. The candle is kept burning throughout the entire Easter week.
Despite some formal differences, the essence of the holiday is the same for all Christians. This is a day of rejoicing, joy from the victory of life over death, and praising the Savior. This is a bright day that both Orthodox and Catholic Christians celebrate with their closest people. We wish you happiness and prosperity, and do not forget to press the buttons and