Orthodox Easter (Pascha)

Saint George Orthodox Church
6 Atwood Avenue, Norwood, MA 02062

Tel. 781-762-4396

Email: StGeorgeNorwood@gmail.com

Web: www.StGeorgeNorwood.org

ORTHODOX HOLY WEEK AND EASTER

Orthodox Christians around the world will be celebrating Easter (called Pascha, the Greek word for Passover) on Sunday, the 12th of April. This year Roman Catholics, Protestants and other Christians will have celebrated the Resurrection one week earlier. The next common celebration will be in 2017.

The reason the Orthodox -- whether Greek, Russian, Antiochian, Serbian etc.-- often have a different date for Pascha / Easter is based on the fact that the date is figured on the Julian calendar (devised at the time of Julius Caesar.) The Julian calendar was used by all Christians until the 16th century when the Gregorian Calendar (named for Pope Gregory XIII) came in to use. Presently the Julian calendar runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar and therefore the calculations for the spring equinox and the full moon following the equinox are sometimes different. Eastern Orthodox Churches also take into account that Easter must follow the Jewish Passover, since Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection came after the Passover.

RE: HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA AT SAINT GEORGE ORTHODOX CHURCH, NORWOOD

5 April: Palm Sunday, Liturgy and Procession - 10:00 am.

9 April: Holy Thursday, Reading of the Passion Gospels - 7:00 pm.

10 April: Great and Holy Friday, Lamentations at the Tomb - 7:00 pm.

11 April: Holy Pascha (Easter), Rush Procession and Divine Liturgy, beginning at 10:30 in the evening.

12 April: Paschal Vespers, 12 noon (At this service the Resurrection Gospel will be read in many languages.).

For times or information about other Holy Week services, Confession etc., call Saint George Orthodox Church at 781-762-4396 or stop by the parish at 6 Atwood Avenue (off Washington) in South Norwood. Complete scheduling information is also on our web site: www.StGeorgeNorwood.org

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