How does the celebration of Easter differ between Greek Catholics and Orthodox

The Feast of the Resurrection of Christ: the traditions of the celebration of Orthodox and Greek Catholics.

Orthodox and Greek Catholics in Ukraine celebrate Easter according to the Gregorian calendar. This year, 2024, Easter falls on May 5. Roman Catholics celebrated this holiday on March 31 according to the Julian calendar. However, many people are interested in whether the celebration of Easter differs between the parishioners of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Greek Catholic Church.

Date of Easter: what the OCU and UGCC say

The Ukrainian Church joined the Christians of the Western rite in celebrating some church holidays. According to the spokesman of the OCU, “the Ecumenical Patriarchate and all local Orthodox Churches celebrate Easter and all related holidays (Palm Sunday, Ascension, Trinity) – according to a single calendar” so as not to break the tradition of Easter.

Instead, the UGCC explained that most parishes of the Greek-Catholic Church will celebrate Easter according to the new Paschalia – just like the Orthodox ones. His Beatitude Svyatoslav noted that the Orthodox, Roman Catholics and Greek Catholics should be “catalysts” of the joint reform of the church calendar.

Are there differences in the celebration of the Greek-Catholic Easter of 2024

The Greek Catholic Church has its own peculiarities, but most of the established traditions are similar to the Orthodox. The fact is that the UGCC was formed under the influence of the Byzantine tradition, although it is subject to the Pope. Among the similarities in the celebration of Easter, several of the most striking common features can be distinguished.

• Easter is a big family holiday for Greek Catholics and Orthodox.
• The main dishes are Easter eggs (eggs and Easter eggs) and Easter.
• In Orthodox and Greek-Catholic churches, a festive Liturgy is also prepared on the occasion of the Resurrection of Christ, which is very similar in both church traditions.
• The festive greeting is preserved: “Christ Resurrection” – “Truly Resurrection”.
• Baskets are consecrated, in which, according to Ukrainian tradition, there should be paska, Easter eggs, cheese, meat products.
• Greek Catholics have the custom of exchanging gifts on Easter.

The vision of the importance of the holiday is common: the victory of light over darkness, reflection on the essence of human existence. Easter unites Ukrainian Christians with common traditions and symbols.