Resurrection Sunday; The Sequel

As many of you may know, this past weekend, was Easter Sunday for those within the Orthodox Tradition. This discrepancy in dates goes back to the difference in annual calendars used; Orthodoxy follows Julius Caesar's Julian calendar, from 46 B.C., whereas Catholics and western traditions align with the Gregorian calendar decreed by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.* For whatever reason, these different calendars caused Easter (Passover, or Pascha) to fall five weeks apart this year. Following the somewhat disappointing Easter celebration (a term I use loosely) on March 31st, we decided to add May 5th to the schedule in hopes of redeeming 'Easter' for the year 2013.

And redeem it we did! Unfortunately, Hannah was sick and unable to join me. But per the invitation of some good friends, I ventured out into the cold Saturday night air to the Pascha service at Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, which began at 11:30p.m. and ended when the festivities for the night died down. 

For the sake of portrayal as accurate a picture as I can of my experience, I must first share with you that I have an eye condition that causes night-blindness; candlelit rooms, though reverent, are less-than-ideal for my having any clue what's going on. My friend Bailey took me by the arm and led me to a pew, where I met Matt, who said he would help me as needed throughout the Pascha service. How fitting, though! I was the perfect object lesson that night, standing there as a literal manifestation of what we were celebrating. The scent of the incense, the tonal worship and choral chanting wafted through the dark hall for more than a half an hour, until midnight. Candles were distributed, and the light past from hand-to-hand.

Once all candles were lit, we were led outside, where we marched in a processional around the church building. Once, twice, three times, with the bell tolling in front of us, and each stopping as they had need, to relight their candle from the night time wind. Following the processional, and short time of prayer outside, we moved back into the sanctuary, where I quite literally passed from blindness to sight, from darkness to light, and the celebration ensued!

Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen!

Christos anesti! Alithos anesti!

Cristo ha resucitado! En verdad ha resucitado!

Kristo amefufukka! Kweli amefufukka!

The priest circled the room countless times (most likely a multiple of three, if I were to make a guess), sprinkling water on us and blessing us with incense exclaiming in any language he could remember that Christ is risen! And as the members of the congregation crossed themselves and received the blessings, they replied, if the knew the given language, that "Indeed, Christ is risen!" Never before have I been among a group of believers so excited to remember that Christ was indeed alive. Laughter and joy filled that room as, for over an hour, we chanted "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life!"** 

The Divine Liturgy began around 1:30a.m. followed by communion, of which I was unable to partake (presumably because I am not a member of the Orthodox church, right?). Nonetheless, being present in that room during such a celebration is an experience and memory I will not soon forget. The priest ended the service by blessing the dozens of 'Easter baskets' on stage. I soon found out that these baskets were full of all of the foods and drinks from which the members of the church had been fasting for several weeks. And when the service was over, the feast began. Pork, steak, sausage, chili, bacon, cheeses, bread, beer and wine, chocolate, and countless other foods soon filled the tables of the fellowship hall, as we all gathered around to celebrate the resurrection of Christ our Lord. 

The selflessness that pervades the Orthodox tradition (from what I've experienced) is its defining factor. In American churches, we are free, and almost encouraged, to "have it your way." Find the worship and the preacher and the sermon time and the children's ministry that appeals most to you and go to that church. Orthodox Christians gather together at the same times, in the same manner, with the same liturgy and worship that they have for centuries, taking the human variable out of the equation and giving God was is God's, week after week, year after year, and again and again. They take fasting seriously. They gather at all hours of the night to bring in the resurrection of Christ. There is no room for "I don't get anything out of that" in these churches.

With this being one of my final posts in this blog, I would emphasize again the need for a renewed sense of reverence and sanctity within the American church. Orthodoxy recognizes God as God in a way I feel most protestant-evangelical churches fall short. If you're only exposure to the Orthodox church is "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," I urge you to take a Sunday, empty yourself of preference and "getting anything out of" this or that, and go silence yourself in the halls of a great building where the Spirit of God moves like wafts of incense through the hearts of his worshipers.

*A quick answer I found here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070316053624AAoTlCC
** The Paschal Troparion, chanted in sets of three. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paschal_troparion