Easter 2018, Easter procession, when it happens, what you need to know about the night Easter service
Easter, the main holiday of the Russian Orthodox Church, falls on April 8 in 2018. Traditionally, Easter services are held at night and include the EASTER CROSS PROCESS.
The procession of the cross on Easter begins at night, at 24 o'clock, in remembrance of the fact that the holy myrrh-bearing women walked to the tomb of the Savior "still existing in darkness", that is, when it was dark.
The people gather in the temple in advance, since before this the midnight office is served, which begins on Saturday evening, at approximately 23:00. Believers prepare candles and lamps - closed candlesticks, so that the wind outside does not extinguish the flames of the candles.
By the time the Midnight Office ends, worshipers line up right in the church to carry banners and icons. A carrying lantern with a candle stands in front. Behind him is a parishioner or clergyman carrying a cross. Behind them, on both sides, stand parishioners of the temple with banners with the faces of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, but there are even more of them. Most often, banner bearers are strong men, since carrying banners, especially if they are large, is not an easy task.
Behind the banner bearers stands a parishioner with a festive icon of the Resurrection of Christ, then parishioners with other icons are arranged in two columns, often carried by women and teenagers. This entire group lines up in the temple, facing the exit, even before the end of the midnight office.
Procession of the Cross for Easter 2018, when it begins, features
And so everyone got ready, for a moment there was complete silence in the temple. When the time approaches, clergy and singers join those standing, and the procession begins to move. The priest comes with a triple candlestick on which there are Easter candles, often in three colors - yellow, red and green. The altar servers carry a large candle and the Gospel, the deacon performs censing. Parishioners hold lit candles in their hands, often red. When the procession leaves the temple, its doors are closed.
After exiting, the procession begins to walk around the temple from left to right. At this time the Blagovest is heard - the bell ringer strikes one bell. All those walking quietly sing along with the singers: “Thy Resurrection, O Christ the Savior, the Angels sing in heaven, and grant us on earth to glorify You with a pure heart.”
The religious procession goes around the temple, and if it is a monastery or temple complex, then the procession takes place in the largest circle, uniting the buildings into one. Approaching the doors of the temple, from which everyone had previously left, the priest censes the censer crosswise and exclaims: Glory to the Holy and Consubstantial and Life-Giving and Indivisible Trinity... In response, “Amen” is heard and the Easter Troparion is sung for the first time. At this time, the bells begin their festive ringing. Then, with the singing of Easter stichera, the people enter the temple and the service begins.
Procession of the Cross for Easter 2018, when it begins, features
Easter religious processions with the reading of the Gospel and sprinkling of those praying on Bright Week are performed daily, after the liturgy. Before the Ascension, religious processions take place once a week - after the Sunday morning service.
On July 27, a religious procession will take place from Vladimirskaya Gorka to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Some perceive this as a demonstration of strength, the power of the Church. Opponents of the Church - as a political demonstration. What is a religious procession really?
In the Church throughout its history, forms of serving God were not limited to verbal prayer. Since the emergence of worship, along with such prayer there has been “prayer with hands” (for example, the sign of the cross) and “prayer with feet” - participation in prayer processions. Such processions were never perceived as a show of force or a political action; it was always a divine service, during which one had to not only pray to God with the mind, but also reinforce one’s prayer with physical labor - sometimes a very long procession.
We find an example of such a prayer procession in the early Church. The 4th century pilgrim Sylvia of Aquitaine describes a large religious procession that took place in Jerusalem on the night from Thursday to Friday of Holy Week. She says that during the night people were very tired, as they walked through almost the entire city, and “every one of them walked - old and young, rich and poor.” The Bishop of Jerusalem encouraged tired people, calling on them to “have hope in the Lord, who will give a great reward for this work.”
It should be noted that similar processions were held regularly not only in Jerusalem, but throughout the Roman Empire. For example, at the same time, the Great Litany arose in Rome - a large religious procession through the whole of Rome, during which the procession moved from one church to another with prayer, trying to visit the burial places of the martyrs. This litany continued all day and ended at St. Peter's Basilica.
Similar processions were made in Constantinople, and Emperor Justinian legalized that these processions should be carried out with prayer and with the obligatory participation of the priesthood, “for will there be a procession of the cross in which there are no priests offering solemn prayers?”
Processions of the cross took place in the Byzantine Empire during times of enemy invasion, drought or disease. The holiday known to us of the Carrying of the Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord originates from the procession of the cross, which took place in August in Constantinople with prayers that the city would be spared epidemics, which very often happened at this time.
The tradition of performing religious processions was also inherited by the Slavic peoples. There is evidence of prayer processions in Bulgaria and Moravia. With the adoption of Christianity, religious processions began to be held in Rus'. The first Russian religious procession is considered to be a procession to the Dnieper for the baptism of the people of Kiev. “Vladimir went out with the priests of Tsaritsyn and Korsun to the Dnieper, and countless people gathered there,” The Tale of Bygone Years describes this procession.
It is in remembrance of this religious procession and the subsequent Baptism of Rus' that an annual procession of the cross takes place from the supposed site of Baptism to the heart of Kyiv - the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
It is important to understand that the religious procession was never a demonstration of anything. The procession with slogans, flags and posters is a legacy of quasi-religious communist ideology. For Orthodox Christians, a procession of the cross is a divine service that is performed according to a strictly defined order in the church charter. Of course, the main activity of a worship service should be prayer. I think everyone understands what it should be about on the day of the Baptism of Rus': that our hearts should preserve the gifts that we received in our baptism. After all, this is what we are all called to do.
Alexander Adomenas
“You should not give treats to pets from the Easter table”
On Sunday, April 8, Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday of Easter Sunday. Easter is celebrated on the night from Saturday to Sunday in different ways: some go to church, while others simply set the festive table at home. Even children know that on this day they should congratulate loved ones with the words “Christ is Risen!” However, behind the external paraphernalia, many forget the true meaning of the holiday. Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin told how to celebrate Easter correctly.
– After the end of the Soviet era, Easter is perceived by many as a secular holiday: colored eggs are considered the same symbols as tangerines for the New Year. But if a person did not observe Great Lent, is it even possible for him to celebrate Christ’s Resurrection?
He needs to try to understand the meaning of the holiday. Even if someone did not fast, he can celebrate on Easter, but the main thing in the celebration is participation in worship, meeting with Christ. This holiday reminds us that you can enter the Kingdom of God only if you believe in Christ. The other paths do not lead out of hell; a person is doomed for eternity if he is not a Christian - no matter how good a person he is.
This is the point: Easter is completely not tolerant, not politically correct and not inclusive - after all, Christ was resurrected in order to give people the only way to eternal life. This is the main thing, not tables and not visiting people, especially not drunkenness and not entertainment. If you don’t have the strength to come to the service at night, you can come in the morning, but without the service the holiday loses its meaning.
For most people, Easter ends with dinner on the night from Saturday to Sunday or with Sunday breakfast - the Easter cake is eaten, the egg is broken, and you can return to normal life. How does the church recommend spending Easter?
On this day, after the service, people either relax or go to visit. Many come to the temple in the evening of the first Easter day, when the solemn vespers are celebrated. This day is well suited to ask for forgiveness from those you have offended, or from those who have offended you. It would be good to renew relationships with people with whom they were senselessly lost. You can visit sick, lonely people, for example, in a nursing home or orphans. All 40 days during which Easter is celebrated are good for good deeds.
It is necessary to find agreement around Christ - an unbeliever husband must be sanctified by a believing wife, she leads him and strives to lead her entire family to Christ.
– After the Easter Liturgy, are all the restrictions of Lent lifted? Are intimate relationships between spouses allowed again?
Yes, after returning from the temple you can eat meat and dairy. This applies to all norms - the fast is over, which means you can return to marital relations.
– A topical question about wine for Russian people: we know that Cahors should be at the Easter meal. Does it need to be consecrated?
People often bless wine; this is allowed, but not required. It can be used - for the glory of God. But it is important not to overdo it when celebrating the end of Lent: an extreme degree of intoxication never, including on Easter, does not make a person beautiful.
– Sometimes pet owners ask: is it possible to treat a cat with an Easter egg, and a dog with a piece of ham? Wouldn't this be sedition?
This should not be done. Blessed Easter eggs are sacred; Even the shells from them are not thrown into the trash by pious people, but are saved to be burned later, and the ashes are poured, for example, under a tree. Therefore, animals should not be given Easter food.
How are church services going on Easter?
On the morning of Holy Saturday, which this year falls on April 7, services begin in churches. After it, from noon to one o'clock in the afternoon until six to eight o'clock in the evening (the schedule can be checked in a particular temple), believers bring Easter cakes, Easter cakes, colored eggs and other food for the Easter table to be blessed.
At half past eleven in the evening the Easter Midnight Office begins - the priests take the Shroud (the canvas depicting the position of the body of Christ in the tomb) to the altar and place it on the throne. There she will remain for 40 days - until the Ascension of the Lord.
Before midnight, the bells solemnly ring, and at midnight the royal gates open and the procession of the Cross begins. At the end of it, the priests sing the troparion: “Christ is risen from the dead!”
This is followed by Easter Matins, after which everyone celebrates Christ - kisses three times, gives each other colored eggs and says: “Christ is Risen!” - “Truly he is risen!” Starting from three in the morning on Sunday, you can also consecrate Easter food; the consecration will continue during the day - from 11-12 to five-six o'clock in the evening, as well as on Monday and Tuesday.
When can you start breaking your fast? After the end of the Divine Liturgy, which ends around three in the morning - four in the morning.
Folk customs
Despite the fact that Easter is a religious holiday, and the church does not approve of superstition, many Orthodox Christians continue to believe in the secrets of their ancestors. For example:
If a girl wants to get married this year, during the church service she must say to herself “The Resurrection of Christ! Send me a single groom!”
A baby born on Easter is predicted to have fame and a great future.
A person who dies on Easter is considered to be marked by God - he immediately goes to heaven. They bury him with red paint in his right hand.
A piece of Easter cake can be crumbled to the birds - they will bring good luck and wealth to the house.
There are many stars in the sky on Easter night - a sign of frost.
The shells from colored eggs can be put in an amulet and worn together with a cross - as a talisman.
“A Brief Church Liturgical Dictionary” (Works by Archpriest Alexander Svirelin, M.: 1916) explains to us: “There is another type of litia, known to us as a procession of the cross. In the event of any public disaster, or general need, or in remembrance of Divine deliverance from a previous disaster, this kind of lithium is performed. They leave the church with banners, the Life-Giving Cross, the Gospel and St. icons and go around the entire village with prayer singing; or they stand in the middle of the village and pray there; or, finally, they go to the water and perform the blessing of water there.”
“Lithium translated from Greek means genuflection, fervent, public prayer. This is the name of the prayer performed in the vestibule of the temple or even completely outside the temple, so that all Orthodox Christians can take part in this prayer - both catechumens and those forbidden, and so that in this way it is literally a prayer of the whole people - a litiya.
Processions of the cross arose in the 4th century in Byzantium. Saint John Chrysostom organized night processions through the streets of Constantinople against the Arians. For this purpose, silver crosses were made on poles, which were solemnly carried around the city along with the holy icons. People walked with lit candles. This is how our church processions of the cross arose. Later, in the fight against the heresy of Nestorius, special religious processions were organized by St. Cyril of Alexandria, seeing the emperor’s hesitation. Later, in Constantinople, to get rid of mass diseases, the Life-Giving Tree of the Honest Cross was taken out of the churches and carried along the streets of the city.
Processions of the cross, which are not part of the divine service, arose as a result of the desire of believers to pray not only in the temple, but also in places where miraculous icons appeared and the prayerful feats of revered saints. To ensure that the procession to such a place was not an idle waste of time, during the procession the Gospel was read, litanies were pronounced, and church hymns were sung. Participants in the religious procession carried with them icons, crosses, and banners. This made the procession more solemn, reminding those they met of the depth and power of the Orthodox faith.
Sometimes the religious procession, which lasted for several days, turned into a real pilgrimage. Participants in such a religious procession, putting aside everyday cares and enduring the hardships of the journey, perform a feat for Christ’s sake. Such a procession is a symbolic carrying of one’s life cross, the fulfillment of the words of the Savior: “if anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).
What is the Procession of the Cross?
A procession of the cross is a crowded solemn procession from one temple to another, around the temple or to some designated place (for example, a holy spring) with a large altar or external cross, from which the procession itself received its name. Participants in the procession also carry the Holy Gospel, icons, banners and other shrines of the temple. Priests and clergy perform a procession in liturgical vestments. During the procession, the troparion of the holiday, irmos, and sometimes the festive canon (on Easter week) are sung. Processions of the cross are regular (calendar) and extraordinary (during epidemics, wars and other special events).
Questions:
Where did the Processions of the Cross come from?
Just like holy icons, religious processions got their origins from the Old Testament. The ancient righteous often performed solemn and popular processions with singing, trumpeting and rejoicing. Stories about this are set out in the sacred books of the Old Testament: Exodus, Numbers, the books of Kings, Psalms and others.
The first prototypes of the religious processions were: the journey of the sons of Israel from Egypt to the promised land; the procession of all Israel following the ark of God, from which followed the miraculous division of the Jordan River; the solemn seven-fold circumambulation of the ark around the walls of Jericho, during which the miraculous fall of the impregnable walls of Jericho took place from the voice of the sacred trumpets and proclamations of the entire people; as well as the solemn nationwide transfer of the ark of the Lord by kings David and Solomon.
On what emergency occasions are religious processions held?
Extraordinary processions of the Cross are carried out with the permission of the diocesan church authorities on occasions that are especially vital for the parish, the diocese or the entire Orthodox people - during the invasion of foreigners, during the attack of a destructive disease, during famine, drought or other disasters.
Is it really that earnest prayer with a contrite heart cannot replace the Processions of the Cross?
A true believer is afraid to contradict God and choose for himself from the law what he wants, but must unquestioningly fulfill the will of God.
Did all the righteous people - Moses and David, Solomon and all Israel - not have a contrite heart and earnest prayer?
They had all this, but they also performed religious processions. As a result of the procession, the Jordan was divided and the walls of Jericho fell. Here too, during various punishments of God’s wrath for our sins: famine, drought, pestilence, destructive disease on people and livestock, and enemy attacks on the fatherland, religious processions are held. Therefore, together with common prayer, fasting and repentance, following the example of the inhabitants of Nineveh, we avoid the righteous punishment sent to us from God.
What are banners, without which solemn religious processions are never carried out?
The first prototype of banners was after the Flood. God, appearing to Noah during his sacrifice, showed him an arc in the clouds and called it an eternal covenant between God and people (Genesis 9: 13-16). Just as the arc in the clouds reminds us of God’s covenant, so on the banners the image of the Savior serves us as a constant reminder of our deliverance at the Last Judgment from the spiritual fiery flood on sinners.
The second prototype of the banners was when Israel left Egypt during their passage through the Red Sea. The Lord appeared to them in a pillar of cloud, and covered all the army of Pharaoh with darkness from this cloud, and destroyed them in the sea, but Israel saved them. So we see on the banners the image of the Savior, like a cloud that came to us from heaven to defeat our enemy - the spiritual hellish pharaoh - the devil with all his army. The Lord, strong in battle, always fights for us and drives away the power of the enemy.
The third type of our banners was the same cloud that covered the tabernacle and overshadowed Israel during the journey to the Promised Land. All Israel looked at the sacred cloud cover and with spiritual eyes understood in it the presence of God Himself.
Another prototype of our banners is the copper serpent, which was erected by Moses at the command of God in the desert. When they looked at it, the Jews received healing from God, since the copper serpent prefigured the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross (John 3:14-15).
So we, carrying banners during the processions of the Cross, raise our bodily eyes to the images of the Savior. Our Lady and Saints; With spiritual eyes we ascend to their prototypes existing in heaven, and we receive spiritual and physical healing from the sinful remorse of spiritual serpents - demons who tempt us.
Why does each parish have its own banners?
During the journey of the children of Israel to the Promised Land, all 12 tribes made their journey following their signs, or banners, and every banner was carried in front of the tabernacle, and all their tribes followed it. Just as in Israel every tribe had its own banners, so in our church every church parish has its own banners. Just as all the tribes of Israel traveled following their banners, so with us every parish during the procession follows their banners.
Instead of the trumpet sounding of that time, we now have a church gospel, which makes all the air around and all the people sanctified, and all the demonic power is driven away.
Therefore, our banners serve as a victorious weapon against the enemy, who trembles at them and drives them away from Christian places and dwellings.
The religious procession is not just kilometers; this is the path of the soul. Physically it is very difficult to walk. As you imagine what the road is like, how you have to have time to photograph (that is, run back and forth) all the participants: children, grandmothers, who alternately carry large ancient icons, it’s good if there is no rain and piercing wind - you involuntarily fear, but then you go with God help and you feel it as happiness.
Probably, in order to understand what the Procession of the Cross is, you have to go through it yourself - and everything will fall into place.
One of the external manifestations of religiosity among an Orthodox person is religious processions. Easter of Christ, a temple holiday, the day of remembrance of a revered saint or miraculous image are always accompanied by a procession of the cross, this triumphant procession of Christians. If suddenly there is an invasion of enemies, an epidemic, a fire, the people carry the image of a revered saint through the streets.
What is the origin of religious processions, in honor of whom and when were they held?
A procession of the cross is a solemn procession of clergy and lay believers with icons, banners and other shrines. There are also extraordinary religious processions established by the Church on especially important occasions.
Processions of the cross got their origins from the Old Testament. The ancient righteous often performed solemn and popular processions with singing, trumpeting and rejoicing. Stories about this are set out in the sacred books of the Old Testament: Exodus, Numbers, the books of Kings, Psalms and others.
In New Testament history, the institute of the Processions of the Cross was Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is an example of the Procession of the Cross, given by the Lord himself, who solemnly entered the city to suffer on the cross, accompanied by the people and with universal exclamations: “Hosanna to the Son of David.”
In the 4th century in Byzantium. Saint John Chrysostom organized night processions through the streets of Constantinople against the Arians. For this purpose, silver crosses were made on poles, which were solemnly carried around the city along with the holy icons. People walked with lit candles. This is how our church processions of the cross arose. Later, in the fight against the heresy of Nestorius, special religious processions were organized by St. Cyril of Alexandria, seeing the emperor’s hesitation.
Later, in Constantinople, to get rid of mass diseases, the Life-Giving Tree of the Honest Cross was taken out of the churches and carried along the streets of the city. Thus a holiday was established, called the Origin (wearing out, procession) of the honorable trees of the Cross of the Lord (August 1/14). Then the tradition was established of holding religious processions around churches on Great and Patronal Feasts, to springs, for the blessing of water on the Feast of Epiphany (Epiphany). The obligatory religious procession and the most joyful one takes place on the holiday of feasts - Easter.
Over the centuries, religious processions began to be held not only on the holiday of the Holy Resurrection of Christ. After the end of the era of persecution of Christians, religious processions became ubiquitous. They have become so firmly established in the rites of Orthodox worship that now any significant church celebration without them is simply unthinkable.
These processions received their name “cross” from the cross carried in front. Jesus Christ, going to suffer, carried a cross on his shoulders. That’s why we carry a crucifix ahead of us. The cross, the icon of the Mother of God, candles, church banners, icons, relics - these are the unchanging shrines of these processions. These are symbols of unity with the heavenly Church.
In Rus' they have always loved religious processions and valued their cleansing and prayerful power. The people's faith in the haste to help the heavenly intercessors, honored during the procession, was limitless. The history of Holy Rus', literally from the first days of its birth, is connected with the Procession of the Cross.
Of interest are the rules of conduct during the religious procession, compiled by Metropolitan. Filaret regarding a specific procession from the Golutvin Monastery to Kolomna in memory of the end of cholera, but of a general nature.
“The clergy must remind themselves and others of good times,” these rules stated - that in order for this good undertaking to bear good fruit, for this it is necessary that the work of God be accomplished with deep and continuous reverent attention. When you enter a procession of the cross, think that you are walking under the leadership of the saints, whose icons are marching in it, approaching the Lord Himself, to the extent that it is possible for us to be weak. The earthly shrine signifies and calls upon the heavenly shrine; the presence of the cross of the Lord and holy icons and sprinkling with blessed water cleanses the air and earth from our sinful impurities, removes dark forces and brings light ones closer. Use this help for your faith and prayer and do not make it useless for you through your negligence. Hearing church singing in the procession, combine your prayer with it; and if you cannot hear from a distance, call to you the Lord, the Mother of God and His saints in the manner of prayer known to you. Do not enter into conversations with those accompanying you; and answer the one who begins the conversation with a silent bow or a short, only necessary word. The clergy should be an example of order and reverence, and the laity should not crowd among the clergy and upset the order. It doesn’t matter if you lag behind in body: do not lag behind the shrine in spirit.”
Processions of the cross most clearly show the popular character of Orthodoxy in Rus', contribute to the strengthening of faith and spirit, and the unity of the Slavic peoples. During the processions, nature and the sky become the Temple, and man is a candle flaming towards God. Everything that is encountered along the procession path - buildings, land, people - is sanctified by continuous prayer and receives a blessing from the highest clergy. The help and significance of the Procession is great. Many Church Fathers emphasize their importance and great spiritual power.
Order of the religious procession
In front of the procession a lantern is carried, followed by an altar cross, an altarpiece of the Mother of God, then in two rows, in pairs, banner bearers, singers, candle bearers with candles, deacons with their candles and censers, and behind them priests. In the last pair of priests, the one on the right carries the Gospel, and the one on the left carries the icon of the Resurrection.
Each participant in the procession must remember that:
- The procession of the cross is not a pleasure stroll, but hard physical and even greater spiritual work;
- Obliged to unquestioningly obey the priest and the leader of the religious procession;
- One must always be spiritually attentive, not engage in worldly conversations, but pray;
- It is advisable to pray the Jesus Prayer;
- The random reading of akathists and prayer canons in a loud voice disturbs the peace of those walking nearby, therefore those who love reading them are better off reading them to themselves;
- Try to think not about your own convenience, but about the convenience of those around you, and don’t get annoyed with your brothers along the way;
- During rest stops, do not leave garbage: bottles, packaging, papers, etc.
- In places where you spend the night, do not burden the hosts with unnecessary requests, think that next year someone should be accepted here;
- Write notes in advance about health and repose for memorial services and prayer services;
- Take a revered icon, adapting it for comfortable wearing over a long distance;
- Take the necessary medical kit: adhesive plaster, bandage, iodine, cotton wool, tablets. (For example: citramon, phthalazole, etc.);
- Be sure to have a hat that protects from the sun, and a warm light jacket or windbreaker for the evening;
- Buy a travel mat from sporting goods. Very convenient and practical for halts and overnight stays.
- Carry two small plastic water bottles with you;
- Do not take what you can do without for several days;
- Take a set of fresh and clean linen for services in churches;
- Shoes should be light, if sneakers, then leather, so that the foot can breathe. Shoes should not be new, but familiar to the feet;
- Take little and easily digestible food: nuts, dried fruits;
- Be sure to have a spoon and a mug; matches, folding knife;
- Personal hygiene items;
- Two changes of underwear and socks (including warm ones);
- Take a light raincoat in case of rain or a piece of light oilcloth sufficient to cover yourself;
All items must fit into a backpack or small shoulder bag.
Do not carry anything in your hands!
Men should be ready to replace those carrying icons or banners, as well as provide assistance to the infirm.
Loading...
