Traditions

Prepared by Very Reverend Archimandrite Alexander Kile.

Dear visitors of our site, I would like to bring to your attention centuries-old traditions of the church that derived from the life of the church.

These traditions come to us in written and oral tradition from the events that took place and were recorded in the Holy Gospels, in the Apocrypha Gospels, in the history books and the traditions books. These traditions also come to us from the lives of the first Christians and martyrs of the church in the First, Second and Third century A. D.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH AND TRADITIONS THAT COME WITH THE HOLY DAYS

Easter in the Orthodox Ecclesiology and church tradition is the most important feast of all the feasts. Even Saint John of Damascus at his famous hymn that we sing on Easter morning calls it: "Feast of feasts and festival of festivals". Other Holy fathers of the Church stresses the importance of the Holy Week and Easter at their homilies. The reason is that through the Crucifixion and the tomb of Christ Resurrection was promised to all his children and the kingdom of death was destroyed with His descent to the Hades. With His Holy Resurrection the New Life started and the gates of paradise were opened.

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THE EASTER EGG

DYING THE EGGS RED and THE GREETING " CHRIST IS RISEN-TRULLY IS RISEN". ...

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THE DARKNESS OF THE CHURCH Before the Easter Service

The orthodox midnight Service and Easter (Pascal) Liturgy starts in a darkened church. The church is in full darkness representing the darkness of the Tomb and the Hades. Before midnight the priest holds a lit Pascal candle and come forward from the Royal door and people approach him to receive light from that candle to their candles. ...

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THE EASTER PROCESSION

The priest assisted by the acolytes who carry, the fans, the incensor, the icon of the resurrection and the banner of the resurrection leave the church. In the mean time the choir, who leads the procession sings: " The angels sing your resurrection oh Christ our Savior, in heaven and us on earth make us worthy with clean heart to glorify You ".

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CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Christmas being one of the most important family feast days in the Christian world, through ages has many traditions in different parts of the world ...

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EPIPHANY

Epiphany is one of the greatest feasts of Christianity and humanity. In the face of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the human nature is sanctified and is washed away from the original sin inherited by the first human Adam. ...

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