What Is Pascha? Orthodox Easter Explained

Pascha is the Orthodox Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Commonly called Orthodox Easter in English, Pascha is the central feast of the Orthodox Church and the culmination of the journey through Great Lent and Holy Week.

What does the word Pascha mean?

The word comes through Greek from the biblical word for Passover. In Christian usage it expresses Christ's passage through death to Resurrection and the deliverance from death proclaimed by the Church.

Why is Pascha called the Feast of Feasts?

The Resurrection stands at the center of Christian faith. Orthodox worship celebrates Christ's victory over death and the hope of resurrection given to humanity. For this reason, Pascha has a unique place above the other annual feasts.

How do Orthodox Christians celebrate Pascha?

Celebration traditionally begins late at night with services leading into the proclamation of the Resurrection. The faithful greet one another with the joyful proclamation that Christ is risen and respond that He is risen indeed. Customs involving foods, decorated eggs, family meals, and local traditions vary among Orthodox cultures.

Why is the date sometimes different from Western Easter?

Orthodox and Western Christians do not always use the same calendar framework for calculating the movable feast. See Why Is Orthodox Easter Sometimes on a Different Date? for a fuller explanation.

What happens after Pascha?

The Paschal celebration continues beyond a single Sunday. The season leads toward the Ascension of Christ and Pentecost, both of which are calculated from Pascha. These celebrations are included among the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church.

For Orthodox Christians, Pascha is more than an annual holiday. It proclaims the heart of the Christian Gospel: Christ is risen from the dead, and death does not have the final word.