Greek Orthodox Easter is the conclusion of Greek Orthodox’s “Great Lent,” a strict 40-day period of fasting. Great Lent ends on Lazarus Saturday, which is when Orthodox Christians believe Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead. Greek Orthodox Easter, like other Easter celebrations, honors the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion.
Many of the Easter Traditions and symbols are the same as other Christian Easter celebrations, including church services, feasting and a preponderance of lilies.
Greek Easter is the same day as Orthodox Easter, but the individual celebrations vary by specific churches, locations and cultures. Most honor the holiday with church services called Paschal Vigils on Holy Saturday, the day before Jesus’ resurrection. In Orthodox and Greek Orthodox churches, Holy Saturday.
While many Christian churches hold sunrise services on Easter Sunday, many Orthodox churches instead mark the resurrection with a midnight service, during which candles are lit and celebrants chant “Christos Anesti” (meaning “Christ is risen”).
Orthodox and Greek Orthodox feasts may be held immediately after midnight mass, though some save it for dinner on Sunday. These meals typically include red-dyed hardboiled eggs (to symbolize the blood of Christ) and lamb, the latter of which is considered a symbol of Christ in the Bible, as well as of sacrifices associated with Passover. Greek Easter dinners will also often feature Tsoureki, a traditional sweet Easter Bread similar to the Italian variety, usually served with a red hardboiled egg inside.
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 at Odysseia Hotel on time, just a few steps from the heart of Limassol and experience Greek Easter customs at our hotel
