Way of the Cross of Christ. Way of the Cross of Jesus Christ (Via Dolorosa)

Now we must walk the path that Jesus walked from the place of judgment to the place of execution at Calvary, the so-called way of the cross . Before us is a narrow winding street 600 meters long, paved with white stone. In the 16th century, this street became known as Via Dolorosa - the Road of Sorrow. Along this path, events took place that stopped the sad procession.

The path starts from Pretoria, where in the time of Jesus there was a dungeon in which prisoners were kept before the court of the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate. Jesus was imprisoned here along with other thieves. We pass with the group along a narrow passage into a small cave. Here we see a stone bench with two holes for legs.

The room is in twilight. The only decoration of this gloomy place is an icon depicting the Savior surrounded by two Angels. It was here that Pilate held court, by the verdict of which Christ was condemned to death on the Cross. Here in this dungeon sat the robber Barabbas.

The second station or stop is considered a church Flagellation. Here Jesus was scourged. Here he was dressed in a scarlet shroud, a crown of thorns was laid on him, and here he accepted the Cross. The dome of the Church of the Flagellation is decorated with a crown of thorns.

Third stop of the Way of the Cross site of Jesus' first fall. This place is marked by a small Catholic chapel. The bas-relief above the door of the chapel depicts Christ, exhausted under the weight of his burden.

We go further down the street, turn onto the next street and come to the 4th stop. Here, according to legend, it happened meeting with mother, which was waiting for the Son from around the corner. There is a chapel on this site. Above the doors is a bas-relief depicting the meeting of Jesus with his mother. We went inside. In a conspicuous place we see a composite statue of the Savior in a crimson tunic and his mother Mary. Sadness and longing are very expressive in the eyes and gestures of the unfortunate woman. On the floor in front of the pedestal, traces are visible, where Mary approximately stood.

At the next intersection of narrow streets, the fifth stop. At this point, the soldiers of the Roman guard, irritated by the slow progress of their prisoner, forced to carry the wooden cross of Simon of Cyrene instead of Jesus. This place is marked by a Franciscan chapel.

On the right side of the wall you can see a stone with a pavement, with a recess that depicted handprint of jesus. We venerated this imprint.

The sixth station of the Sorrowful Way is meeting with Veronica When Jesus passed by, she went out to meet him and wiped his face with her handkerchief dipped in cold water. The face of Christ was imprinted on the handkerchief. Savior Not Made by Hands, who later worked miracles, and now he is in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The stop is marked by the chapel of St. Veronica, and a piece of a column embedded in the wall marked the place where her house was.

The seventh stop is second fall of jesus. This is the intersection of the streets, and it is marked by the remains of the column. Nearby is a Franciscan chapel.

Way of Sorrow (Via Dolorosa), Jerusalem. In the Old City of Jerusalem, there is a street along which Jesus Christ took his last steps, carrying a heavy crucifix. This route has a length of only 250 meters. A narrow winding street 600 meters long, paved with white stone and worn out by the soles of the boots of millions of pilgrims, is the Holy Cross for the entire Christian world, or the Passion Way, along which Jesus Christ walked to Golgotha. The street has changed significantly over the centuries. Archaeological research shows that the early Way of Sorrow on the western hill had much more realistic features. Nevertheless, pilgrims constantly go to Jerusalem and pass the same way that the suffering Jesus once overcame.
On Via Dolorosa, 9 of the 14 Stations of the Way of the Cross of Christ are located, some of them are mentioned in the Gospel. Another 5 stations are located on the territory of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Photo 1. Via Dolorosa begins in the Muslim quarter near the gates of St. Stephen, or the Lion's Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem at the gates of the Muslim religious school El Omaria.

Photo 2.

Photo 3. The first station is the place where Jesus was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate.
Once here, on the territory of the Anthony Tower, there was the residence of the Roman procurator (praetorium), where the trials of the accused were held. Currently, nothing remains of the Anthony Tower and in its place is the Catholic convent of the Sisters of Zion. There are two chapels in its courtyard: Condemnation and Scourging. The Chapel of Judgment was erected over the place of Christ's condemnation. The floor tiles have been preserved from those times.

Photo 4. The second station of Via Dolorosa is the Church of the Flagellation. Here Jesus was scourged, here he was dressed in a scarlet shroud, a crown of thorns was placed on him, and here he accepted the cross. The dome of the Chapel of the Flagellation is decorated with a mosaic crown of thorns.
From the monastery across Via Dolorosa, the arch of Ecce homo is thrown. Pontius Pilate brought the condemned Jesus here and showed it to the crowd with the words "Behold the man!"

Photo 5. The third stop of the Way of the Cross - the place of the first fall of Jesus.
This place is marked by a small Catholic chapel built with money from Polish soldiers after World War II. The relief above the door of the chapel depicts Christ, languishing under the weight of his burden.

Photo 6. If we walk a little further along Via Dolorosa, we come to the fourth stop - a meeting with the Mother. This event, like the previous one, is not described in any Gospel, but is immortalized by tradition. From here, the Virgin Mary, overtaking the procession, watched the suffering of her son. The place is marked by the Armenian catholic church Our Lady of the Great Martyr. Above the entrance is a bas-relief depicting a meeting.

Photo 7. At the corner of Via Dolorosa and El Vade is the fifth stop of the Way of the Cross.
At this point, the soldiers of the Roman guard, irritated by the slow progress of their captive, forced Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross instead of Jesus. This place is marked by a Franciscan chapel, and on the right in the wall there is a stone with a depression, which is considered to be a trace from the hand of Jesus, leaning against the wall, freeing himself from the cross.

Photo 8. The sixth station of the Sorrowful Way - meeting with Veronica.
When Jesus was passing by, she went out to meet him and wiped his face with her handkerchief soaked in cold water. In this regard, the church canonized her among the saints. The face of Christ, the Savior Not Made by Hands, was imprinted on the scarf, who subsequently worked miracles and is now in St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The sixth stop is marked by the chapel of St. Veronica, and a piece of a column embedded in the wall marks the place where the house of Veronica was supposedly located.

Photo 9. The seventh stop - the second fall of Jesus.
Further along, Via Dolorosa intersects with the bustling market street of Sukhan ez Zain. The place where Jesus fell a second time is marked by the remains of a column, and a Franciscan chapel is located nearby.
Tradition determines that when leaving the city, Jesus stumbled on the threshold of the Judgment Gate. Through these gates, those condemned to be executed were taken out of the city. They were called courts because before them the sentence was read to the condemned for the last time, after which he was no longer subject to appeal. As a result of the excavations, slabs of the Threshold of the Judgment Gate were discovered, which you can see not far from here in the Alexander Compound. This place belongs to Russia

Photo 10. Along a very narrow street we approach the eighth station of Via Dolorosa - the appeal of Jesus Christ to the daughters of Jerusalem.
Many people followed Jesus and he turned to the women mourning him: "Weep not for me, daughters of Jerusalem, but for yourself and your children," thereby predicting the imminent destruction of Jerusalem. Here is the chapel of St. Harlampy, and on the wall is a stone with a Latin cross and the inscription NIKA, which symbolizes the eighth stop.

Photo 11. The ninth station is the place of the third fall of Christ.
Here you will have to deviate a little from the route, because. the road is lined with buildings. At the entrance to the Ethiopian monastery there is a column indicating the ninth stop and the third fall of Christ, from here he saw Golgotha.

Photo 12. The remaining five stations of Via Dolorosa are located in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The tenth station is the removal of clothes.
At the entrance to the Temple is the chapel of the Revelation (Limit of the Division of Rees), where Jesus' clothes were torn off before the crucifixion.

Photo 13. Eleventh station - nailed to the cross.
This place is marked by an altar. Above the altar is Jesus nailed to the cross.

Photo 14. Twelfth station - death on the cross.
The place where the cross stood is marked with a silver disk under the altar. Here, through the hole, you can touch the top of Golgotha.

Photo 15. The thirteenth station - the removal from the cross.
The place where the body of Christ lay is indicated by a Latin altar. Under glass is a wooden statue of the Sorrowful Virgin with gifts from pilgrims. The words "Stabat Mater dolorosa" - "Mourning mother stood" are written here. The body of Christ was laid by Joseph and Nicodemus on the stone of anointing for anointing with incense before burial.

Photo 16. Fourteenth stop - position in the coffin.
Above the Holy Sepulcher there is a cuvuklia (you can read more details here). Here Joseph of Arimathea puts the body of Jesus in the crypt, and the Romans block the entrance with a huge stone. This is where the resurrection took place.

Photo 17.

Way of the Cross - component Passion of the Lord, which includes the Carrying of the Cross, culminating in the Crucifixion. In Catholicism, a divine service that recreates in the memory of believers the main moments of the suffering of Jesus Christ.

gospel narrative

All four evangelists narrate about the way of the cross, and Matthew and Mark are exactly the same:

“We met a Cyrenean named Simon; this one was made to bear His cross.”

John describes this episode very briefly, saying nothing about Simon of Cyrene, but saying about Jesus that he

“Carrying His cross, He went out to a place called Skull, in Hebrew” (John 19:17).

Luke tells the most about the way of the cross:

“And when they led Him away, they seized a certain Simon of Cyrene, who was walking from the field, and laid a cross on him to carry after Jesus. And a great multitude of people and women followed Him, weeping and weeping for Him. Jesus, turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem! do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children, for the days are coming in which they will say: blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not fed! then they will begin to say to the mountains: fall on us! and hills: cover us! For if they do this to a green tree, what will happen to a dry one? (Luke 23:26-31).

Description of worship

The liturgy consists of 14 stations, representing various moments of the Passion of Christ, as well as an introduction and conclusion.

Traditionally, on the walls of Catholic churches, fourteen paintings or sculptural compositions are placed around the perimeter, corresponding to the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross.

Thus, the worshipers during the service bypass the entire temple.

Stations of the Cross

• VIII:
• XIII:

Each position consists of the following elements:

• Proclamation of the name of the station.
• Prayer of the Cross. Various texts of similar content can be used as a prayer of the cross:

“We worship You, Christ, and we bless You. For by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.” “We adore You, Christ, and we bless You. For You redeemed the world with Your Holy Cross” “We worship You, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all Your churches that are in the whole world, and we bless You, for You redeemed the world with Your Holy Cross”, etc.

• Reading meditation. Meditation is a text of free form, prompting the participants of the divine service to think more deeply about one or another moment of the Passion of the Lord.
• Prayer (Our Father, Hail Mary or other).
• Procession to the next station.

Traditions

Usually the Divine Services of the Way of the Cross are held during Great Lent, especially on Fridays. It is obligatory to conduct the Way of the Cross on Good Friday - the day of the crucifixion and death of Christ.

In many Catholic countries, where there are monasteries or revered temples located in the mountains or remote places, sculptural or pictorial images of the stations of the Cross are installed along the road leading to the sanctuary. The worship of the Way of the Cross can thus be combined with a pilgrimage.

The Way of the Cross of the Son of God in Jerusalem is not just an attraction or a tourist attraction. This is an opportunity to personally and without any intermediaries to touch the greatest Christian shrines, to see with your own eyes everything that you read about hundreds of times in the Gospel, to experience everything that the very first Christians of Jerusalem experienced.

Historians say that the road of Jesus Christ from the residence of the procurator Pilate to Golgotha ​​is very symbol the path that the Son of God took before dying on the cross. For two thousand years, Jerusalem was almost completely destroyed several times, and the cultural layer forever hid from the eyes of people those streets on which the Savior stepped foot.

Scientists believe that the most famous street holy city Christians Via Dolorosa is nothing more than an attempt by medieval pilgrim monks to resurrect the distant past. And the main task of this street is to strengthen faith, the visual embodiment of the main Christian dogma about the Great Sacrifice, designed to atone for human sins.

But people do not come here for the historical truth. People come here to hear themselves, to forget for a while about the troubles, problems, tasks and troubles in life. Because all human problems and troubles here become small, not noteworthy. If you try to compare them with that tragedy, with those miracles that happened here two thousand years ago.

The way of the cross of Jesus Christ - from the palace of the procurator Pilate to the place of the crucifixion and Resurrection - Golgotha ​​- takes less than one and a half kilometers. On this path, 14 places are marked, associated with the most tragic and triumphant events, both described in the Gospel and carefully preserved by hundreds of generations of Christians in legends and traditions.

Today there are churches, monasteries, chapels, commemorative signs, arches on the way of pilgrims who want to go through the path of sorrow and spiritual triumph. All sacred places (stops of the Way of the Cross) now belong to different Christian Churches, different denominations. But access to all shrines is open to anyone who wants to personally touch the greatest event which has given hope to every Christian in the most difficult moments of life for more than two millennia.

It is impossible not to notice these “stops”, they are marked with special signs, signs with inscriptions and pointers.

Read in this article

Beginning: trial and verdict

The Gates of the Virgin Mary, or, as they are called in the Arab quarter of Jerusalem, the "Lion's Gate" are considered the beginning of the Way of the Cross. Jesus entered the city through this gate on Palm Sunday. Here began the very path to God's Glory through great suffering.

The palace of the Jewish procurator, where the interrogation took place, where the Savior survived the bullying of the guards and heard the verdict, has sunk into oblivion. At this place stands convent Franciscan order (Sisters of Zion). Here you can see:

• The dungeon is the cell where Jesus was during the quick and unrighteous investigation;
• Chapel of the Condemnation - stands on the spot where the death sentence was read to the Savior;
• Chapel of the Flagellation - installed in the place where the way of the cross to Golgotha ​​began, where Jesus endured the bullying of the soldiers, accepted the crown of thorns and his Cross;
• The monastery museum is a small but valuable collection of archaeological finds from the 1st century AD (open for viewing only in morning hours);
• Ecce Homo - the arch at which Pilate introduced the Savior to the crowd, where the crowd yelled: "Crucify him!".

The monastery includes the first two stops of the Way of the Cross.

mournful path

The name of the street Via Dolorosa is translated as "Sorrowful Way". On this path, seven more significant places of the Way of the Cross of Jesus Christ are marked:

• Polish Chapel - installed on the site of the First Fall of Christ under the weight of the Cross, the entrance to the chapel is decorated with a bas-relief depicting the fall, and the building itself was built with donations collected by Polish soldiers;
• The Armenian Church of the Mother of God the Great Martyr stands at the meeting place of Jesus and His Mother, in the church crypt you can see a Byzantine mosaic panel marking the place where the Mother of God stood, contemplating the suffering and humiliation of the Son;
• The Franciscan chapel of Simon of Cyrene - installed at the end of the century before last on the site where Simon took over the Cross from Jesus, the place on old wall on which the exhausted Savior leaned;
• The Greek Catholic Chapel of the Younger Sisters of Jesus stands on the spot where Blessed Veronica wiped the face of Christ with a handkerchief (the handkerchief itself with the imprint of the face of the Son of God is kept in the Vatican). The chapel is closed to the public, but a column is built into its wall, indicating the place where the house of the Blessed One stood;
• The Alexander Compound of the Russian Orthodox Church is located on the threshold of the Judgment Gate, the place where the sentence or pardon was once again read out to those sentenced to death. Here Jesus fell under the weight of the Cross for the second time. Pavement slabs and steps of the Judgment Gate Threshold are available for inspection;
• Kharlampiev Monastery - stands on the spot where the Savior addressed the women who mourned Him. The place is marked by a small stone slab with an inscription in Greek: "Jesus Christ the Conqueror";
• The Coptic Church and the Ethiopian monastery are the site of the third and final fall of the Savior on the Way of the Cross, from here Jesus saw Golgotha, the place of his crucifixion. The place of the fall is indicated by a column embedded in the wall;

The remaining five stops along the way are located directly under the roof:

• Chapel of Revelation - stands on the spot where Christ's clothes were torn off before execution;
• The place of nailing to the Cross is indicated by the altar;
• The place of the crucifixion - the hole into which the Cross of the Savior was inserted is indicated, here you can touch Golgotha ​​itself;
• Deposition from the Cross and anointing with spices - a stone slab on which the body of Christ was prepared for burial after death on the Cross;
• The Holy Sepulcher is the most holy and revered place of all Christians, the cuvuklia chapel, which stands above the burial place and Resurrection of the Son of God.

The Way of the Cross of Jesus Christ to Golgotha ​​ends in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Good to know

Best time to visit

There is no city more controversial and complex than modern Jerusalem. Via Dolorosa is now a very busy shopping street. Hundreds of shops, stalls, shops will meet you all the way from the Lion's Gate to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

If we take into account that the first half of the "path" is located in the Arab quarter, it becomes clear that for merchants every pilgrim, tourist, or even just a passerby, is a potential buyer.

Middle Eastern temperament and the ability to "work" with a sluggish European client for many visitors becomes torture. Therefore, if for you the Way of the Cross is not just another attraction and a pleasure walk, but a string of the greatest Christian shrines, come to the Lion's Gate by 8 o'clock in the morning.

By this time, merchants have not yet had time to deploy their trays and open windows, and the mass tourist is just waking up. A visit to Via Dolorosa during these morning hours will be quiet, meaningful and unhurried.

With a guide or on your own?

There are advantages and disadvantages in both the first and second cases. If you prefer to travel on your own:

• You will not have to keep up with your group to the detriment of your interests (guides are always in a hurry);
• You will get rid of the need to listen to a lot of information that you are not particularly interested in;
• No one will distract you with conversations that are more like empty chatter;
• You will save on travel expenses.

If you simply cannot imagine your stay in Jerusalem without a guide:

• You do not have to spend money on a guidebook and a tourist map;
• You will save a lot of time, because all routes are designed by guides as convenient and expedient as possible;
• You will be able to visit places where not everyone is allowed;
• You will feel confident, there will be no language barrier, and a group of compatriots will make your stay comfortable and carefree.

The choice, of course, is yours. It all depends on how you are used to spending your free time and how sociable you are.

In the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The most important Christian temple belongs to six denominations at once. Despite the fact that the time of the services is strictly distributed not only by days, but also by hours and minutes, the conflict situations: people are people. Alas, here someone is constantly shouting at someone - Catholics at the Orthodox, Orthodox at the Copts, Copts at the Syrians, Syrians at the Armenians, Armenians at the Ethiopians, etc.

Move away from conflict areas. Take your eyes off the excited ministers. Your attention can be regarded as sympathy for one of the parties.

If, despite your caution and complete tolerance, one of the ministers made a remark to you, apologize, even if you did not understand what your fault was. Your humility will be appreciated, perhaps the strict minister himself, imbued with your humility, will accompany you during the inspection of the temple and those shrines to which access is limited will open before you.

Most importantly, remember that someone comes to this place who wants to be alone with the Lord for a few minutes. Everything else is vanity.

After Jesus Christ was condemned to be crucified, He was handed over to the soldiers. The soldiers, having taken him, again beat him with insults and mockery. When they mocked Him, they took off the purple robe from Him and put on His own garments. Those condemned to be crucified were supposed to carry their cross, so the soldiers put His cross on the shoulders of the Savior and led him to the place appointed for the crucifixion. The place was a hill called Golgotha, or place of execution, i.e. sublime. Golgotha ​​was located west of Jerusalem, not far from the city gates, called Judgment.

A great multitude of people followed Jesus Christ. The road was mountainous. Exhausted by beatings and scourgings, exhausted by mental suffering, Jesus Christ could barely walk, falling several times under the weight of the cross. When they reached the city gates, where the road went uphill, Jesus Christ was completely exhausted. At this time, the soldiers saw a man close by who looked at Christ with compassion. This was Simon of Cyrene, returning after work from the field. The soldiers seized him and forced him to carry the cross of Christ.

Carrying the Cross by the Savior

Among the people who followed Christ there were many women who wept and sobbed for Him.

Jesus Christ, turning to them, said: “Daughters of Jerusalem! Do not weep for Me, but weep for yourself and for your children. Because the days will soon come when they will say: happy are those wives who have no children. Then people will say to the mountains fall on us, and on the hills: cover us."

So the Lord foretold those terrible calamities that were to break out over Jerusalem and the Jewish people soon after His earthly life.

NOTE: See in the Gospel: Matt., ch. 27 , 27-32; from Mark, ch. 15 , 16-21; from Luke, ch. 23 , 26-32; from John, ch. 19 , 16-17.

Crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ

The execution of crucifixion on the cross was the most shameful, the most painful and the most cruel. In those days, only the most notorious villains were executed with such a death: robbers, murderers, rebels and criminal slaves. The suffering of a crucified man is indescribable. In addition to unbearable pain in all parts of the body and suffering, the crucified one experienced terrible thirst and mortal spiritual anguish. Death was so slow that many were tormented on the cross for several days. Even the executioners - usually cruel people - could not coolly look at the suffering of the crucified. They prepared a drink with which they tried either to quench their unbearable thirst, or, by the admixture of various substances, to temporarily dull their consciousness and alleviate their torment. According to Jewish law, a person hung from a tree was considered cursed. The leaders of the Jews wanted to disgrace Jesus Christ forever by condemning Him to such a death.

When they brought Jesus Christ to Golgotha, the soldiers served Him to drink sour wine mixed with bitter substances in order to alleviate suffering. But the Lord, having tasted it, did not want to drink it. He did not want to use any remedy to relieve suffering. He voluntarily accepted these sufferings upon Himself for the sins of people; That's why I wanted to endure them.

When everything was ready, the soldiers crucified Jesus Christ. It was about noon, in Hebrew, at the 6th hour of the day. When they were crucifying Him, He prayed for His tormentors, saying: "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing."

Next to Jesus Christ they crucified two villains (robbers), one on the right, and the other on left side From him. Thus, the prediction of the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled, who said: "And he was counted among the evildoers" (Is. 53 , 12).

By order of Pilate, an inscription was nailed to the cross over the head of Jesus Christ, signifying His guilt. On it was written in Hebrew, Greek and Roman: Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews", and many read it. The enemies of Christ did not like such an inscription. Therefore, the high priests came to Pilate and said: "Do not write: King of the Jews, but write that He said: I am the King of the Jews."

But Pilate answered: "What I have written, I have written."

Meanwhile, the soldiers who crucified Jesus Christ took His clothes and began to divide among themselves. They tore the outer garment into four pieces, one piece for each warrior. The chiton (underwear) was not sewn, but all woven from top to bottom. Then they said to each other: "We will not tear it apart, but we will cast lots for it, whoever gets it." And casting lots, the soldiers sitting guarded the place of execution. So, here, too, the ancient prophecy of King David came true: “They divided My garments among themselves, and they cast lots for My garments” (Psalm. 21 , 19).

Enemies did not stop insulting Jesus Christ on the cross. As they passed, they slandered and, nodding their heads, said: "Hey! Destroying the temple and building up in three days! Save yourself. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

Also, the chief priests, scribes, elders and Pharisees, mockingly, said: “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. now let God deliver him, if he pleases him; for he said, I am the Son of God.

Following their example, the pagan warriors, who sat at the crosses and guarded the crucified, mockingly said: "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself."

Even one of the crucified robbers, who was to the left of the Savior, slandered Him and said: "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us."

The other robber, on the contrary, calmed him down and said: “Or are you not afraid of God when you yourself are condemned to the same thing (that is, to the same torment and death)? But we are justly condemned, because we received what is worthy of our deeds and He did nothing wrong." Having said this, he turned to Jesus Christ with a prayer: " remember me(remember me) Lord, when you come into your kingdom!"

The merciful Savior accepted the heartfelt repentance of this sinner, who showed such wondrous faith in Him, and answered the prudent thief: " I tell you truly, today you will be with me in paradise".

At the cross of the Savior stood His Mother, the Apostle John, Mary Magdalene and several other women who revered Him. Can't describe the grief Mother of God who saw the unbearable torment of His Son!

Jesus Christ, seeing His Mother and John standing here, whom He especially loved, says to His Mother: " Geno! behold, thy son"Then he says to John:" here, your mother"From that time on, John took the Mother of God to his house and took care of Her until the end of Her life.

Meanwhile, during the suffering of the Savior on Calvary, a great sign occurred. From the hour the Savior was crucified, that is, from the sixth hour (and according to our account from the twelfth hour of the day), the sun darkened and darkness fell over all the earth, and lasted until the ninth hour (according to our account until the third hour of the day) , i.e. until the death of the Savior.

This extraordinary, universal darkness was noted by pagan historian writers: the Roman astronomer Phlegont, Phallus and Junius Africanus. famous philosopher from Athens, Dionysius the Areopagite, was at that time in Egypt, in the city of Heliopolis; observing the sudden darkness, he said: "Either the Creator suffers, or the world is destroyed." Subsequently, Dionysius the Areopagite converted to Christianity and was the first Bishop of Athens.

About the ninth hour, Jesus Christ loudly exclaimed: Or or! lima savahfani!" that is, "My God, My God! Why did you leave me?" They were initial words from the 21st Psalm of King David, in which David clearly predicted the suffering on the cross of the Savior. With these words the Lord reminded people for the last time that He is the true Christ, the Savior of the world.

Some of those standing on Golgotha, hearing these words spoken by the Lord, said: "Behold, He is calling Elijah." And others said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to save Him."

The Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that everything had already happened, said: "I thirst."

Then one of the soldiers ran, took a sponge, soaked it with vinegar, put it on a cane and brought it to the withered lips of the Savior.

Having tasted the vinegar, the Savior said: Done", that is, the promise of God was fulfilled, the salvation of the human race was completed.

And behold, the veil in the temple, which covered the holy of holies, was torn in two, from the top to the bottom, and the earth shook, and the stones split; and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many.

Centurion confesses Jesus Christ as the Son of God

The centurion, (the head of the soldiers) and the soldiers with him, who guarded the crucified Savior, seeing the earthquake and everything that happened before them, were frightened and said: " Truly this man was the Son of God". And the people, who were at the crucifixion and saw everything, began to disperse in fear, striking themselves in the chest.

Friday evening came. Easter was to be eaten that evening. The Jews did not want to leave the bodies of those crucified on the crosses until Saturday, because Easter Saturday was considered a great day. Therefore, they asked Pilate for permission to kill the legs of the crucified, so that they would die sooner and could be removed from the crosses. Pilate allowed. The soldiers came and broke the shins of the robbers. When they approached Jesus Christ, they saw that He had already died, and therefore they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers, so that there would be no doubt about His death, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed from the wound.

Rib perforation

27 , 33-56; from Mark, ch. 15 , 22-41; from Luke, ch. 23 , 33-49; from John, ch. 19 , 18-37.

The Holy Cross of Christ is the Holy Altar on which the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Descent from the Cross and Burial of the Savior

On the same evening, shortly after all that had happened, a famous member of the Sanhedrin, a rich man, came to Pilate. Joseph of Arimathea(from the city of Arimathea). Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus Christ, secret - out of fear of the Jews. He was a kind and righteous man, who did not participate in the council, in the condemnation of the Savior. He asked Pilate for permission to remove the body of Christ from the cross and bury it.

Pilate was surprised that Jesus Christ died so soon. He called the centurion who guarded the crucified, learned from him when Jesus Christ died, and allowed Joseph to take the body of Christ for burial.

Burial of the Body of Christ the Savior

Joseph, having bought a shroud (a linen for burial), came to Golgotha. Another secret disciple of Jesus Christ and a member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus, also came. He brought with him for burial a precious fragrant ointment - a composition of myrrh and aloes.

They removed the body of the Savior from the Cross, anointed Him with incense, wrapped Him in a shroud, and laid Him in a new tomb, in a garden near Golgotha. This coffin was a cave that Joseph of Arimathea carved into the rock for his burial, and in which no one had yet been laid. There they laid the body of Christ, because this tomb was close to Golgotha, and there was little time, since the great feast of Easter was coming. Then they rolled a huge stone to the door of the coffin and left.

Mary Magdalene, Mary Josieva and other women were there and watched how the body of Christ was laid down. Returning home, they bought precious ointment, so that later they could anoint the body of Christ with this ointment, as soon as the first, great day of the feast had passed, on which, according to the law, everyone should be at peace.

Position in the coffin. (Lamentation of the Mother of God.)

But the enemies of Christ did not rest, despite their great feast. The next day, on Saturday, the chief priests and Pharisees (disturbing the peace of the Sabbath and the feast) gathered, came to Pilate and began to ask him: “Sir, we remembered that this deceiver (as they dared to call Jesus Christ), while still alive, He said, “After three days I will rise again.” Therefore command that the tomb be guarded until the third day, lest His disciples come at night and steal Him away and tell the people that He has risen from the dead, and then the last deception will be worse than the first.”

Pilate said to them, "You have guards; go and guard as you know."

Then the high priests with the Pharisees went to the tomb of Jesus Christ and, having carefully examined the cave, applied their (Sanhedrin's) seal to the stone; and set up a military guard at the tomb of the Lord.

When the body of the Savior lay in the tomb, with His soul He descended into hell to the souls of people who died before His suffering and death. And all the souls of righteous people who were waiting for the coming of the Savior, He freed from hell.

The return of the Mother of God and the Apostle Paul from the burial

NOTE: See in the Gospel: from Matt., ch. 27 , 57-66; from Mark, ch. 15 , 42-47; from Luke, ch. 23 , 50-56; from John, ch. 19 , 38-42.

The sufferings of Christ are remembered by St. Orthodox Church the week before Easter. This week is called Passionate. Christians should spend this entire week in fasting and prayer.

Pharisees and Jewish High Priests
seal the tomb of the Lord

AT Great Wednesday Holy Week remembers the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot.

AT Maundy Thursday In the evening, after the Vespers (which is Good Friday Matins), the twelve parts of the gospel of the sufferings of Jesus Christ are read.

AT Good Friday at Vespers(which is served at 2 or 3 p.m.) is taken out of the altar and placed in the middle of the temple shroud, i.e., the sacred image of the Savior lying in the tomb; this is done in remembrance of the removal from the cross of the body of Christ and His burial.

AT Great Saturday on the matins, with the funeral ringing of bells and while singing the song "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us" - the shroud is wrapped around the temple in remembrance of the descent of Jesus Christ into hell, when His body was in the tomb, and His victory over hell and death .

Military guards at the Holy Sepulcher

To Holy Week and for the feast of Passover we prepare ourselves with fasting. This fast lasts forty days and is called Holy forty days or Great Lent.

In addition, the Holy Orthodox Church instituted fasting for Wednesdays and Fridays every week (except for some, very few, weeks of the year), on Wednesdays - in remembrance of the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas, and on Fridays - in remembrance of the suffering of Jesus Christ.

We express faith in the power of the suffering on the cross for us Jesus Christ sign of the cross during our prayers.

The Descent of Jesus Christ into Hell

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

After the Sabbath, at night, on the third day after His suffering and death, The Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of His divinity, came to life, i.e. rose from the dead. His human body was transformed. He came out of the tomb without breaking the stone, without breaking the Sanhedrin seal and invisible to the guards. From that moment on, the soldiers, without knowing it, guarded the empty coffin.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake; an angel of the Lord descended from heaven. He, approaching, rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb of the Lord and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. The warriors who stood guard at the tomb trembled and became like the dead, and then, waking up from fear, fled.

On this day (the first day of the week), as soon as the Sabbath rest ended, very early, at dawn, Mary Magdalene, Mary Jacobleva, John, Salome and other women, taking the prepared fragrant myrrh, went to the tomb of Jesus Christ to anoint His body, because they did not have time to do this at the burial. (The Church calls these women myrrh-bearers). They did not yet know that guards were assigned to the tomb of Christ, and the entrance to the cave was sealed. Therefore, they did not expect to meet anyone there, and they said among themselves: "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" The stone was very large.

The angel of the Lord rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb

Mary Magdalene, ahead of the rest of the myrrh-bearing women, was the first to come to the tomb. It was not yet dawn, it was dark. Mary, seeing that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, immediately ran to Peter and John and said: "They took the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they put Him." Hearing these words, Peter and John immediately ran to the tomb. Mary Magdalene followed them.

At this time, the rest of the women, walking with Mary Magdalene, approached the tomb. They saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. And when they stopped, suddenly, they saw a luminous angel sitting on a stone. The angel, turning to them, said: “Do not be afraid: for I know that you are looking for Jesus crucified. He is not here; He is risen as I said while still with you. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead."

They went inside the tomb (cave) and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, looking, they saw an angel in a white robe sitting on the right side of the place where the Lord was laid; they were terrified.

The angel says to them: “Do not be horrified; you are looking for Jesus, the crucified Nazarene; He is risen; He is not here. Here's the place where He was laid. But go and tell His disciples and Peter (who by his renunciation fell away from the number of disciples) that He will meet you in Galilee, where you will see Him, as He told you."

When the women stood in perplexity, suddenly, again, two angels in shining clothes appeared before them. The women bowed their faces to the ground in fear.

The angels said to them: "Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here: He is risen; remember how He told you when he was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful people, and be crucified, and rise on the third day."

Then the women remembered the words of the Lord. And having gone out, they fled from the tomb in trembling and fear. And then, with fear and great joy, they went to tell His disciples. They didn't say anything to anyone on the way, because they were afraid.

Having come to the disciples, the women told about everything they had seen and heard. But their words seemed empty to the disciples, and they did not believe them.

Myrrh-Bearing Women at the Holy Sepulcher

Meanwhile, Peter and John come running to the tomb of the Lord. John ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first, but he did not enter the tomb, but bending down, he saw the sheets lying. After him, Peter comes running, enters the tomb and sees only the sheets lying, and the kerchief (bandage) that was on the head of Jesus Christ, not lying with the sheets, but rolled up in another place separately from the sheets. Then John came in after Peter, saw everything, this and believed in the resurrection of Christ. Peter marveled at what had happened in himself. After that, Peter and John returned to their homes.

When Peter and John left, Mary Magdalene, who came running with them, remained at the tomb. She stood and wept at the entrance to the cave. And when she was crying, she bent down and looked into the cave (into the tomb), and saw two angels in a white robe, sitting, one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of the Savior lay.

The angels said to her: "wife! Why are you crying?"

Mary Magdalene answered them: "They have carried away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

Having said this, she looked back and saw the standing Jesus Christ, but from great sadness, from tears and from her confidence that the dead do not rise, she did not recognize the Lord.

Jesus Christ says to her: "Woman! why are you crying? Whom are you looking for?"

Mary Magdalene, thinking that this is the gardener of this garden, says to Him: "Lord! If you carried Him out, tell me where you put Him, and I will take Him."

Then Jesus Christ says to her: Maria!"

Appearance of the Risen Christ to Mary Magdalene

The well-known voice made her come to her senses from her sadness, and she saw that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was standing before her. She exclaimed: " Teacher!" - and with indescribable joy she threw herself at the feet of the Savior; and from joy she did not imagine the whole greatness of the moment.

But Jesus Christ, pointing out to her the holy and great mystery of His resurrection, tells her: “Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brothers (i.e., disciples) and tell them: I ascend to My Father, and to your Father, and to my God and your God."

Then Mary Magdalene hastened to His disciples with the news that she had seen the Lord and that He had told her. This was the first appearance of Christ after the resurrection..

Appearance of the Risen Christ to the Myrrhbearers

On the way, Mary Magdalene caught up with Mary Iakovleva, who was also returning from the tomb of the Lord. When they went to tell the disciples, suddenly, Jesus Christ Himself met them and said to them: " rejoice!".

They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him.

Then Jesus Christ said to them: "Do not be afraid, go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

So the resurrected Christ appeared a second time.

Mary Magdalene with Mary Iakovleva, entering the eleven disciples and all the others, weeping and weeping, announced great joy. But when they heard from them that Jesus Christ is alive and they saw Him, they did not believe.

After that, Jesus Christ appeared separately to Peter and assured him of His resurrection. ( Third phenomenon). Only then did many cease to doubt the reality of the resurrection of Christ, although there were still non-believers among them.

But before

All, as evidenced by the antiquity of St. Church, Jesus Christ delighted His Blessed Mother telling her through an angel of his resurrection.

The Holy Church sings about this in this way:

Be glorified, be glorified Christian church because the glory of the Lord has shone over you: rejoice now and rejoice! But you, Pure Mother of God, rejoice in the resurrection of the one born by you.

Meanwhile, the soldiers who were guarding the tomb of the Lord and fled from fear, came to Jerusalem. Some of them went to the high priests and they were told everything that happened at the tomb of Jesus Christ. The high priests, having gathered with the elders, held a conference. Due to their evil stubbornness, the enemies of Jesus Christ did not want to believe His resurrection and decided to hide this event from the people. To do this, they bribed the soldiers. Giving a lot of money, they said: "Tell everyone that His disciples, having come at night, stole Him when you were sleeping. And if the rumor about this reaches the ruler (Pilate), then we will clap for you in front of him and save you from trouble" . The warriors took the money and did as they were taught. This rumor spread among the Jews, so that many of them believe it to this day.

The deception and lies of this rumor are visible to everyone. If the soldiers were sleeping, they could not see, and if they saw, then they were not sleeping and would have detained the kidnappers. The guard must watch and watch. It is impossible to imagine that the guard, which consisted of several persons, could fall asleep. And if all the soldiers fell asleep, then they were subject to severe punishment. Why were they not punished, but left alone (and even rewarded)? And the frightened disciples, who locked themselves in their homes from fear, could they possibly decide, without weapons against the armed Roman soldiers, on such a brave deed? And besides, why would they do it when they themselves lost faith in their Savior. Besides, could they roll off a huge rock without waking anyone up? All this is impossible. On the contrary, the disciples themselves thought that someone had carried away the body of the Savior, but when they saw the empty coffin, they realized that this did not happen after the abduction. And, finally, why didn't the leaders of the Jews search for the body of Christ and punish the disciples? Thus, the enemies of Christ tried to obscure the cause of God with a crude interweaving of lies and deceit, but proved powerless against the truth.

28 , 1-15; from Mark, ch. 16 , 1-11; from Luke, ch. 24 , 1-12; from John, ch. 20 , 1-18. See also 1st Epistle of St. app. Paul to the Corinthians: ch. 15 , 3-5.

Appearance of the resurrected Jesus Christ to two disciples on the way to Emmaus

By the evening of the day when Jesus Christ was resurrected and appeared to Mary Magdalene, Mary of Jacob and Peter, two of Christ's disciples (out of 70), Cleopas and Luke, were walking from Jerusalem to the village Emmaus. Emmaus was ten versts from Jerusalem.

On the way, they talked among themselves about all the events that took place in the last days in Jerusalem - about the suffering and death of the Savior. When they were talking about everything that had happened, Jesus Christ Himself approached them and walked beside them. But something seemed to hold their eyes, so that they did not recognize Him.

Jesus Christ said to them: "What are you talking about as you walk, and why are you so sad?"

One of them, Cleopas, said to Him in response: “Are you one of those who came to Jerusalem, do you not know about what happened in it these days?”

Jesus Christ said to them: "About what?"

They answered Him: “about what happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a mighty prophet in deed and word before God and all the people; how the chief priests and our leaders betrayed Him for condemnation to death and crucified Him. And we hoped that He He is the one who is to redeem Israel. And today is the third day since this happened. But some of our women amazed us: they were early at the tomb and did not find His body and, returning, they told that they saw angels who say, that He is alive. Then some of us went to the tomb and found everything as the women said, but they did not see Him."

Then Jesus Christ said to them: "Oh, foolish ones, and slow (not sensitive) in heart to believe everything that the prophets foretold! Was it not necessary for Christ to suffer and enter into His glory?" And He began, beginning from Moses, to explain to them from all the prophets what was said about Him in all Scripture. The students marveled. Everything became clear to them. So in conversation they approached Emmaus. Jesus Christ showed the appearance that he wants to go further. But they held Him back, saying, "Stay with us, for the day has already turned to evening." Jesus Christ stayed with them and entered the house. And when He was at table with them, He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus Christ. But He became invisible to them. This was the fourth appearance of the resurrected Christ. Cleopas and Luke, in great joy, began to say to each other: “Did not our hearts burn with joy when He spoke to us on the road and when He opened the Scriptures to us?” After that, they immediately got up from the table and, despite the late hour, went back to Jerusalem to the disciples. Returning to Jerusalem, they entered the house, where all the apostles and others who were with them were gathered, except for the Apostle Thomas. All of them joyfully met Cleopas and Luke and said that the Lord had truly risen and appeared to Simon Peter. And Cleopas and Luke, in turn, told about what happened to them on the way to Emmaus, how the Lord Himself walked with them and talked, and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of bread.

They recognized Jesus Christ. But He became invisible to them

16 , 12-13; from Luke, ch. 24 , 18-35.

The appearance of Jesus Christ to all the apostles and other disciples, except for the Apostle Thomas

When the apostles were talking with the disciples of Christ, Cleopas and Luke, who had returned from Emmaus, and the doors of the house where they were were locked out of fear from the Jews, suddenly Jesus Christ Himself stood in the midst of them and said to them: " peace to you".

They were confused and frightened, thinking they were seeing a spirit.

But Jesus Christ said to them: “Why are you troubled, and why do such thoughts enter your hearts? Look at My hands and at My feet, it is I Myself; touch (touch) Me and consider; indeed, the spirit has no flesh and bones, as you see with me."

Having said this, He showed them His hands, and His feet, and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. For joy they still did not believe and marveled.

To strengthen them in their faith, Jesus Christ said to them, "Do you have any food here?"

The disciples gave Him a piece of baked fish and honeycomb.

Jesus Christ took it all and ate in front of them. Then he said to them: “Behold, now that which I spoke to you about while I was with you has come to pass, that everything that is written about me in the law of Moses, both in the prophets and in the psalms, must be fulfilled.”

Then the Lord opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, that is, gave them the ability to understand Holy Bible. Finishing His conversation with the disciples, Jesus Christ said to them a second time: peace to you! As the Father sent me into the world, so I send you"Having said this, the Savior breathed on them, and said to them:" receive the Holy Spirit. To whom you forgive sins, they will be forgiven(from God); on whom leave(sins unforgiven) will remain on that".

This was the fifth appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ on the first day of His glorious resurrection.

Bringing all His disciples great inexpressible joy. Only Thomas, of the twelve apostles, called Gemini, was not at this apparition. When the disciples began to tell him that they saw the resurrected Lord, Thomas said to them: "If I do not see the wounds from the nails on His hands, and put my finger (finger) into these wounds, and put my hand into His side, I won't believe it."

NOTE: See the Gospel: Mark, ch. 16 , fourteen; from Luke, ch. 24 , 36-45; from John, ch. 20 , 19-25.

Appearance of Jesus Christ to the Apostle Thomas and other Apostles

A week later, on the eighth day after the Resurrection of Christ, the disciples again gathered all together in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, just like the first time. Jesus Christ entered the house closed doors stood in the midst of the disciples and said: Peace to you!"

Then, turning to Thomas, he says to him: "Put your finger here and see My hands; put your hand here and put it in My side; and do not be unbelievers, but believers."

Then the Apostle Thomas exclaimed: my Lord and my God!"

Jesus Christ said to him: you believed because you saw me, but blessed are those who have not seen and believed".

20 , 26-29.

The Appearance of Jesus Christ to the Disciples at the Sea of ​​Tiberias and the Restoration of the Denied Peter in the Apostleship

According to the command of Jesus Christ, His disciples went to Galilee. There the eyes went about their daily business. Once Peter, Thomas, Nathanael (Bartholomew), the sons of Zebedee (James and John) and two other of His disciples were fishing all night in the Sea of ​​Tiberias (Lake of Gennesaret) and did not catch anything. And when morning had already come, Jesus Christ was standing on the shore. But the disciples did not recognize Him.

View of the Tiberias (Galilee) Sea
from Capernaum

Jesus Christ said to them, "Children! Do you have any food?"

They answered "no".

Then Jesus Christ said to them: "throw the net on the right side of the boat and you will catch it."

The disciples threw the net on the right side of the boat and could no longer pull it out of the water because of the many fish.

Then John says to Peter, "This is the Lord."

Peter, having heard that it was the Lord, girded himself with his clothes, because he was undressed, and threw himself into the sea, and swam to the shore, to Jesus Christ. And the other disciples sailed in a boat, dragging a net with fish behind them, since they were not far from the shore. When they came ashore, they saw a fire laid out and fish and bread lying on it.

Jesus Christ tells the disciples: "Bring the fish that you have now caught."

Peter went and pulled out a net full of big fish who were one hundred and fifty three; and with such a multitude, the network did not break.

After that, Jesus Christ says to them: "Come, dine."

And none of the disciples dared to ask Him: "Who are You?" knowing that it is the Lord.

Jesus Christ took the bread and gave them, also the fish.

During the dinner, Jesus Christ showed Peter that He forgives his denial and raises him again to the title of His apostle. By his denial, Peter sinned more than the other disciples, so the Lord asks him: "Simon Jonas! Do you love Me more than they (the other disciples)?"

Peter answered Him, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You."

Jesus Christ says to him, "feed my lambs."

Then again, for the second time, Jesus Christ said to Peter: “Simon Jonas, do you love Me?”

Peter again answered, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You."

Jesus Christ says to him: "feed my sheep."

And finally, for the third time, the Lord says to Peter: "Simon of Jonas! Do you love Me?"

Peter was saddened that the Lord asked him for the third time: "Do you love Me?" and said to Him: "Lord! You know everything; You know that I love You."

Jesus Christ also says to him: "feed my sheep."

Thus the Lord helped Peter to make amends for his threefold renunciation of Christ three times and testify of his love for Him. After each answer, Jesus Christ returns to him, along with the other apostles, the title of apostle (he makes His sheep a shepherd).

After that, Jesus Christ says to Peter: “Truly, truly, I say to you: when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, then stretch out your hands and another will gird you, and lead you where you don't want to." With these words, the Savior made it clear to Peter what kind of death he would glorify God - he would be martyred for Christ (crucifixion). Having said all this, Jesus Christ tells him: "follow me."

Peter, turning around, saw John walking behind him. Pointing to him, Peter asked: "Lord! and what is he?"

Jesus Christ told him: "If I want him to be until I come, then what is it to you? You follow Me."

Then a rumor spread among the disciples that John would not die, although Jesus Christ did not say so.

NOTE: See the Gospel of John, ch. 21.

The appearance of Jesus Christ to the apostles and more than five hundred disciples

Then, at the command of Jesus Christ, the eleven apostles gathered on a mountain in Galilee. More than five hundred disciples came to them there. There Jesus Christ appeared before everyone. Seeing Him, they bowed down; and some doubted.

Jesus Christ approached and said: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So go and teach all nations (my doctrine), baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; teach them to keep all that I have commanded you. And behold, I will be with you all the days until the end of the age. Amen".

Then, separately, Jesus Christ appeared again Jacob.

So in continued forty days after His resurrection, Jesus Christ appeared to His disciples, with many faithful proofs of His resurrection, and talked with them about the Kingdom of God.

NOTE: See in the Gospel: Matthew, ch. 28 , 16-20; from Mark, ch. 16 , 15-16; see in the 1st epistle of Ap. Paul to Corinth., Ch. 15 , 6-8; see Acts of Sts. Apostles ch. 1 , 3.

Christ is Risen!

Great event - Light Christ's Resurrection celebrated by the Holy Orthodox Church as the greatest of all holidays. This is the feast of the Feast and the Celebration of the festivities. This holiday is also called Easter, that is, the Day on which our passage from death to life and from earth to heaven. The feast of the Resurrection of Christ lasts a whole week (7 days) and the service in the temple is special, more solemn than on all other holidays and days. On the first day of the Feast, Matins begins at midnight. Before the start of Matins, the clergy, dressed in bright clothes, together with the faithful, with bells ringing, with lit candles, a cross and icons, walk around the temple (perform a procession), in imitation of the myrrh-bearing women who walked early in the morning to the tomb of the Savior. During procession everyone sings: Thy Resurrection, O Christ the Savior, the angels sing in heaven: and make us on earth worthy of glorifying Thee with a pure heart. The initial cry of Matins is made in front of the closed doors of the temple, and the troparion is sung many times: Christ is Risen..., and with the singing of the troparion they enter the temple. Divine services are held throughout the week with open Royal Doors, as a sign that now, by the Resurrection of Christ, the gates of the Kingdom of God are open to all. On all days of this great holiday, we greet each other with a fraternal kiss with the words: " Christ is Risen!" and in response: " Truly Risen!" We Christenise and exchange painted (red) eggs, which serve as a symbol of the new, blessed life that opened from the tomb of the Savior. All the bells ring all week. Starting from the first day of Holy Pascha until Vespers of the feast of the Holy Trinity prostrations not supposed to be assumed.

On the Tuesday after Paschal Week, the Holy Church, sharing the joy of the Resurrection of Christ with the dead in the hope of a general resurrection, especially creates commemoration of the dead, therefore this day is called " Radonitsa". A funeral Liturgy and an ecumenical memorial service are performed. It has long been customary on this day to visit the graves of one's close relatives.

In addition, the day of the Resurrection of Christ is remembered by us every week - on Sunday.

Troparion for the feast of Easter.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and bestowing life on those in the tombs.

Christ rose from the dead, having conquered death by death and giving life to those in the tombs, i.e. the dead.

Sunday

Resurrected, revived; amending- having won; living in tombs- located in coffins, dead people; bestowing a belly- giving life.

Kontakion of Easter.

Songs of the feast of Easter.

The angel exclaimed to the blessed (Mother of God): Pure Virgin, rejoice! and again I say: rejoice! Your Son rose from the tomb on the third day after death and raised the dead: people, rejoice!

Glorify, glorify the Christian Church, because the glory of the Lord has shone over you: now triumph and rejoice! But you, Pure Mother of God, rejoice in the resurrection of the one born by you.

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