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Orthodox Christians typically say "Pascha" when referring to Easter. The Orthodox Church follows the Julian Calendar when determining the date for Pascha, as it has done from the earliest centuries of Christianity.

Armenian Christians celebrate the holiday on January 6. However, Armenians in Jerusalem will celebrate Christmas from January 18-19.

Traditionally a time of spiritual contemplation and austerity, friends, families and communities across the diaspora and the Orthodox world will join together in commemoration of the Passion of Christ.

According to Christian belief, Good Friday is the saddest and darkest day for all followers of Jesus Christ, the day commemorating Christ’s crucifixion and death upon the cross. Jesus became the true Lamb of God that took away the...

On Great and Holy Friday the Orthodox Church commemorates the death of Christ on the Cross. This is the culmination of the observance of His Passion by which our Lord suffered and died for our sins. This commemoration begins on Thursday evening with the Matins of Holy Friday and concludes with a Vespers on Friday afternoon that observes the unnailing of Christ from the Cross and the placement of His body in the tomb.

The holiday season is not over yet — the Feast of Nativity, or Eastern Orthodox Christmas, is Friday. For anyone interested — regardless of their faith — observance starts today.

Good Friday: a Day of Fasting, Mourning and Solemn Processions ” width=”800″> For Greek Orthodox believers, Good Friday is a day of fasting and absolute mourning. The Greek Orthodox Church reminds us about Jesus’ journey to the Cross and death, about his burial and the triumph of evil over good, until the latter triumphs once again with the Resurrection of Christ. ” width=”1080″> Twelve Gospels are read on Holy Thursday evening and five on Good Friday morning narrating the tragic ...