Grace Thompson
Byzantine Catholics celebrate Easter with a rich and joyous tradition. The date of Easter has been a point of discussion for various Christian denominations, including Byzantine Catholics, with some advocating for a universal date. While there is no consensus yet, the celebration involves greeting each other with Christ is risen, singing the Paschal Troparion, and blessing Easter baskets filled with traditional items like Ukrainian Easter eggs, cheese, and pre-cooked meats. Byzantine Catholics also observe a strict fast during Holy Week, culminating in the joyous celebration of Easter, also known as Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, commemorating Christ's resurrection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of celebration | There is no fixed date for Easter celebrations. |
| The Byzantine Forum proposed a solution to the issue of differing dates by suggesting the use of the most advanced astronomically accurate calculations available, with measurements taken from the meridian of Jerusalem. | |
| In 2016, several Christian denominations considered agreeing on a common, universal date for Easter, with the second or third Sunday in April being popular choices. | |
| In November 2022, the Patriarch of Constantinople announced that conversations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches had begun to determine a common date for Easter celebrations, with an agreement expected to be reached by 2025. | |
| Easter traditions | Byzantine Catholics have a rich and joyous tradition for celebrating Easter. |
| They greet each other by saying, "Christ is risen," and responding, "Indeed He is risen." | |
| They sing the Paschal Troparion, especially during the procession around the church during Resurrection Matins. | |
| They prepare Easter baskets filled with traditional items like Ukrainian Easter eggs, cheese, pre-cooked ham, sausage, butter shaped as a lamb, salt, and horseradish. | |
| They cover their baskets with an embroidered cloth bearing the words "Christ is Risen." | |
| The Easter basket blessing is a rich Byzantine tradition where the basket's contents are meant to be consumed while breaking the fast. | |
| They bless food items like Easter bread ("pascha") and meat products, symbolizing the sacrificial animals of the Old Testament and the "Lamb of God." | |
| They perform the liturgy with the priest initially dressed in dark vestments, carrying the shroud from the tomb, and later changing into bright vestments to lead the procession around the church. | |
| Byzantine Ukrainian Catholics have slightly longer Sunday liturgies during Lent, celebrating the liturgy of St. Basil the Great instead of the shorter liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. | |
| Byzantine Catholics focus on "almsgiving, fasting, and prayer" during Lent, and they observe Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday with specific rituals. |
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What You'll Learn
Greeting each other with Christ is risen
Greeting each other with "Christ is risen" is a joyous Easter tradition for Byzantine Catholics. This proclamation is an integral part of Easter celebrations, reminding Christians of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his victory over death.
The greeting is adapted from the Bible, specifically Matthew 28, where an angel tells Mary Magdalene and the other Mary at Jesus' tomb: "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee."
On Easter Sunday, Byzantine Catholics greet each other with "Christ is risen," and the response is "Indeed, He is risen." This exchange is not limited to church settings but also takes place on the streets, reflecting the joy and hope of the resurrection. The greeting is more than just a salutation; it is a public declaration of faith, a reminder that Jesus' death was not in vain, and that he has the power to overcome death.
The Easter celebration for Byzantine Catholics includes other rich traditions, such as blessing Easter baskets filled with symbolic foods after the liturgy. The basket's contents include pre-cooked ham, sausage, butter shaped like a lamb, Ukrainian Easter eggs called Pisanki, cheese, salt, and horseradish. These foods are eaten to celebrate the resurrection, breaking the strict Byzantine fast that precedes Easter. The blessing of food is a meaningful custom, reminding Byzantine Catholics of Christ's sacrifice and their participation in the "divine joy of His kingdom."
The celebration of Easter among Byzantine Catholics is a joyous and meaningful time, filled with traditions that bring communities together and reinforce their faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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Blessing and eating Easter food
Byzantine Catholics have a rich and joyous tradition for celebrating Easter. The celebration involves greeting each other, either in church or on the street, by saying "Christ is risen", with the response being "Indeed He is risen". The Paschal troparion is also sung frequently, starting at the end of the procession around the church during Resurrection Matins.
On Easter Sunday, Byzantine Catholics put together their Easter baskets for a blessing after the liturgy. The blessing of Easter baskets is a rich Byzantine tradition. The Easter basket is filled with food to celebrate the resurrection by breaking the fast. The baskets are covered with an embroidered cloth bearing the words "Christ is Risen". While there are traditional items to include in the basket, the contents are meant to be everything one plans to eat that day. The main item in the basket is Easter bread, called "Pascha", which symbolises Jesus Christ as the "living Bread" and His promise to remain with us. A candle is placed in this bread and lit during the blessing of the baskets. Another type of bread, called "Babka", is sweetened with raisins and represents the Theotokos.
Other traditional items in the basket include cheese, pre-cooked ham and sausage, butter shaped as a lamb, Ukrainian Easter eggs called "Pisanki", salt, and horseradish. The horseradish serves as a reminder of the Passion of Christ. After the liturgy, the priest blesses the Easter baskets.
The three main categories of food traditionally blessed for Easter are:
- Easter bread, referred to as "pascha"
- Meat products
- Dairy products
Meat and dairy products are excluded from the daily diet during the entire season of the Great Fast, beginning with Cheesefare Sunday. As the end of the strict fast approaches, Byzantine Catholics express their joy and gratitude by taking their food to church to be blessed and eaten after the Easter Liturgy. This custom was brought to the United States by the ancestors of those who continue it today.
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Singing the Paschal Troparion
Byzantine Catholics celebrate Easter with a rich and joyous tradition. They greet each other with "Christ is risen", to which the response is "Indeed He is risen". They also sing the Paschal Troparion, a lot. The Paschal Troparion, or Christos anesti in Koine Greek, is a brief stanza often used as a refrain between the verses of a psalm but can also be used on its own. It is sung in the first plagal (or fifth) tone. The Paschal Troparion is part of the Paschal Divine Liturgy of the Byzantine Rite and was certainly in use in the 5th or 6th century, with some suggesting a 2nd-century origin.
The Paschal Troparion is sung at the end of the procession around the church during Resurrection Matins on Easter morning. The procession is led by the priest, who wears dark vestments if the burial shroud and tomb are still set up. The priest carries the shroud from the tomb and places it on the holy table before changing into bright vestments. The procession then begins, with the priest leading the faithful out of the church and around the outside of the building three times, beginning the resurrection matins. The procession ends at the closed front doors of the church, where the Paschal Troparion is sung.
The Paschal Troparion is also sung at home by some Byzantine Catholics. One person on Reddit mentions humming it while walking around the house, and another recommends singing it daily at home for months after Pascha. The Paschal Troparion has also been adopted by non-Orthodox Christians. In Finland, the Orthodox Easter Vigil has been broadcast on radio and television for decades, and the troparion gradually became well-known to non-Orthodox Finns. In 1986, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland added the troparion to its official hymnal, where it is used for Easter.
The Paschal Troparion is a joyous song that celebrates the resurrection of Christ. It is a central part of the Byzantine Catholic celebration of Easter, and its use extends beyond the church to the homes of individuals and even to other Christian denominations.
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Preparing Easter baskets
Byzantine Catholics have a rich and joyous tradition of celebrating Easter. The first thing they do on Easter morning is put together their Easter baskets for a blessing after the liturgy. The blessing of Easter baskets is a rich Byzantine tradition. The Easter basket is filled with foods that are consumed to celebrate the resurrection by breaking the fast. The baskets are covered with an embroidered cloth bearing the words "Christ is Risen".
Basket Containers
The first step is to choose a container for your Easter basket. While traditional wicker baskets are commonly used, you can get creative and use various items as the base for your Easter basket:
- Plastic cups or bowls: You can wrap plastic cups or bowls in pastel yarn or secure ribbons to create a unique basket.
- Flower pots: A flower pot can be a charming and reusable option for your Easter basket. Choose a pot that is at least 6 inches big, fill it with shredded paper filler, and add small gifts.
- Tote bags: You can decorate a plain tote bag by attaching a felt carrot to the handle using a ribbon.
- Rain boots: This unique idea involves using new rain boots as the container for your Easter treats.
- Mason jars: Texturing craft paste on mason jars creates a beautiful basket-like effect.
Basket Decorations
Once you have selected your container, you can decorate it to make it more festive and personalized:
- Yarn or twine: Weave fluffy yarn through a simple wire basket to add softness and colour. You can create a striped effect by alternating two colours of yarn.
- Ribbon or fabric: Ribbons and fabric can be used to secure and decorate your basket. You can also add fabric ruffles to give your basket a whimsical touch.
- Paper crafts: Cut bunny ears from white and pink craft paper and attach them to the inside of the basket with glue. You can also use paper, buttons, and twine to create a bunny face on your basket.
Basket Fillers
Now comes the fun part—filling your Easter basket with treats and goodies! While chocolate Easter bunnies and candy are traditional favourites, you can also include a variety of other items:
- Small toys or inexpensive jewellery
- Coloring books and crayons
- Small gifts, such as gift cards or sample-size toiletries
- Healthy snacks or non-candy treats, such as small toys or stickers
- Traditional Byzantine Catholic foods, such as cheese, pre-cooked ham, sausage, butter shaped as a lamb, and Ukrainian Easter eggs called Pisanki.
Remember, you can personalize your Easter basket to suit the interests and preferences of the recipient. Get creative, and don't be afraid to add your own unique touches!
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Liturgy and vestments
The Byzantine Rite, also known as the Greek Rite or Rite of Constantinople, is a liturgical rite identified with the cultural, devotional, and canonical practices of the Eastern Christian church of Constantinople. The Byzantine liturgical calendar is inherited from the Old Testament and is divided into three seasons: the fixed Season of the Nativity, and the moveable Seasons of Pascha (Easter) and Pentecost. The Byzantine liturgical year begins on September 1.
The Byzantine Divine Liturgy is a feast of colors. There is no set color scheme for the Byzantine tradition, except for the guidelines for when light and dark colors are to be worn. Gold is the standard color for vestments and is used when no other color is specified. Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Churches in the U.S. follow a system of liturgical colors: white or silver is worn on Sundays and for funerals; blue is worn on Feasts of the Theotokos and the Holy Archangels; green is worn during the Season of Pentecost and on Palm Sunday. During the Great Fast, purple is worn for Presanctified Liturgies. Red is worn during the Apostles Fast, Feasts of the Cross, and the Feast of the Beheading of the Forerunner. Black is worn in Slavic churches during the Great Fast and Holy Week.
On Easter morning, the priest wears dark vestments for the liturgy if the burial shroud and tomb are still set up. After carrying the shroud from the tomb and placing it on the holy table, the priest changes into bright vestments and leads a procession around the outside of the church three times, beginning the resurrection matins.
The Byzantine liturgy is distinct from other Eastern Catholic liturgies, which use the Aramaic-Syriac, Armenian, and Coptic liturgies of the Oriental Orthodox churches. The Byzantine liturgy is often done in a vernacular language and has more active participation from the congregation than the traditional Roman rite. The Byzantine liturgy is also more layered and simultaneous than the traditional Latin liturgy.
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Frequently asked questions
Byzantine Catholics celebrate Easter according to the Julian calendar. The date of Easter varies from year to year but it must be on a Sunday, falling between March 22 and April 25.
Easter Sunday is the first day of Bright Week, which is thought of as one joyous day.
Byzantine Catholics have a rich tradition of celebrating Easter. They greet each other by saying "Christ is risen" and responding "Indeed He is risen". They also sing the Paschal troparion a lot, starting at the end of the procession around the church during Resurrection Matins.
The Easter basket is filled with food to break the fast, including cheese, pre-cooked ham, sausage, butter shaped as a lamb, Ukrainian Easter eggs called Pisanki, salt, and horseradish.
The liturgical year according to the Byzantine tradition includes various feasts and celebrations such as the Feast of the Circumcision, the Feast of the Epiphany, and the Feast of the Annunciation.
