We Wish You Peace, Health and Happiness
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APRIL 27, 2019 We Wish You Peace, Health and Happiness The National Herald T H D E L N A AT ER IONAL H www.thenationalherald.com THIS HOLIDAY INSERT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF: Μaria Allwin / The Behrakis Family Foundation / John & Margo Catsimatidis Angeliki Frangou – Navios Maritime Holding, Inc. / George M. Logothetis, Libra Group / George Marcus Jim & Ted Pedas / Michael and Robin Psaros / Dr. Spiro & Amalia Spireas, Sigmapharm Laboratories and the continuous support of the Greek-Americans whose advertisements appear in this special supplement. 2 Easter 2019 THE NATIONAL HERALD, APRIL 27, 2019 Easter 2019: Kalo Pascha! By Eleni Sakellis groups targeting people on a religious holiday when they gather with their families to attend services, all ages together. Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti! Christ is risen! Truly He is It would be easy to lose faith at such a moment, but it is vital risen! Following the long journey of Great Lent, we finally reach in these times to remain steadfast and remember that love is the the celebration of Pascha, Easter. Pascha is a time for church and basis of faith. It would be easier not to believe, not to forgive, family. not to embrace the teachings of Christ, not to love our Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Anastasi is a neighbors, and not to turn the other cheek, but then the forces much bigger holiday in the Orthodox Christian tradition than of darkness would have won anyway. even Christmas. The days of preparation; the strict fasting of We should ask ourselves, do we really want to live in a world Great Lent; the many, beautiful church services leading up to the where people are afraid to practice their religion, whatever it holiday; bringing home the Holy Light to bless our homes – all may be? these add a special quality that cannot quite be explained to Freedom of religion is something we take for granted here in those who have not experienced it. the United States, but there are many places around the world The food is also a major part of the celebration. Inextricably where people suffer unspeakably for their faith and where the linked with the church-going is the dyeing of red eggs on Holy freedom of religion doesn’t exist at all or if it did at one time, it Thursday and the tremendous amount of cooking and baking is being gradually worn away by extremist views. It is especially leading up to the feast on Easter Sunday. The baking of vital in these times to stay informed about the world around us, lazarakia, koulourakia, tyropites, and flaounes brings families and not imagine that because we have certain freedoms that together to experience the traditions and recipes that have been everyone values and respects those same freedoms everywhere. passed down through the generations and connect us with our The true meaning of Pascha, the basis of the Christian faith, roots. The traditions also remind us of loved ones who are no the defeat of death and darkness by the light of faith in Jesus longer with us, who we know – through the Resurrection of Christ fills the season with hope and spirituality as no other time Jesus and the trampling down of death – are only asleep. During of year. these difficult times for so many people, when we hear about While we send our thoughts and prayers to those suffering continuing crises, families divided, the persecution of Christians, loss and heartbreak in the face of tragedy, we must also take an and ongoing wars, it is important to remember the less fortunate active role as Christians and stand up for the voiceless people and to pray for peace in world. everywhere living under oppression of all kinds. The terrible terrorist attack on the Christians celebrating Easter in Sri Lanka, which left hundreds dead, is a potent We wish everyone Kali Anastasi, Kalo Pascha, and Happy reminder that there is still evil in the world, that there are Easter! April 28th, 2019 is not ‘American Easter’, but Here’s Why it Really Ought to Be By Dr. Constantinos E. causing me to reference to the Easter’, because it ignores a Hanukkah really falls on a Scaros Council of Nicaea and the major Christian denomination, different day.” Compounding Great Schism, which can make Protestant, which also happens the awkwardness is when n April 21st of for interesting conversation to be the largest in the United Western Easter falls on another this year and in over drinks and dinner, but States by far, which also prominent Orthodox holiday – the couple of days might cause the people behind celebrates Easter on the same Palm Sunday – as it did this preceding it, I me on line at the supermarket day as the Catholics do. year. I’m thinking to myself: Owas greeted by a waiting to pay for their The most accurate “no, today’s not the day of eggs few folks, from store cashiers groceries to grumble. terminology I have ever heard and Easter bonnets, it’s a day to passersby on the street, with Like many Greek- is ‘Eastern Easter’ and ‘Western of palms!” the benevolent wish of “Happy Americans, I grew up Easter’, and so ‘American And yes, there is a part of Easter”. My overt response is identifying the two events as Easter’ is an inaccurate term. I me that thinks silently: “my always to reciprocate – “thank ‘Greek Easter’ and ‘American propose, however, that it ought Easter celebration date is more you, same to you,” even Easter’. A good friend and to exist and apply, but in a correct than yours.” Oh, but though my Easter – this year former colleague – who is not different sense. not for the reasons you might and most years – falls on a Greek and is Catholic – once You see, I feel somewhat imagine. It’s not because different Sunday. told me of how funny that awkward saying “Happy Orthodox Easter is my “home Years ago, I did away with sounded to her over the years, Easter” when in my own mind team” and therefore it must be the lengthier but more when her own Greek-American I’m thinking “but it’s not really whose “side” I’m on, nor accurate explanation of: “thank friends would speak about Easter yet.” It has nothing to because I think Orthodoxy is you, but, actually, we ‘American Easter’. She said: do with whether I celebrate theologically flawless (I don’t). (Orthodox) celebrate Easter on “don’t they realize it’s Western Easter or not: I have Rather, it has to do with a _____,” because it would often celebrated all over the world no problem wishing someone a simple sense of history: Easter result in a barrage of questions on that day – England, France, “Happy Hanukkah,” which I is the acknowledgment and – particularly when the two Germany – not just America?” also do not celebrate, because celebration of Jesus Christ dates are several weeks apart – Another misnomer is ‘Catholic I’m not thinking “but rising to life again after having died on the cross, following his capture after celebrating Passover with his Disciples (The Last Supper), which means, of course, that Easter should always be celebrated after Passover. Otherwise, it would be like saying that the Declaration of Independence was signed before the Boston Massacre, the Intolerable Acts, and other actions by King George that caused the Colonies to declare their independence in the first place. Because to my recollection Eastern Orthodoxy has never celebrated Easter prior to Passover, whereas the Western Churches have. For that reason alone I consider the timing of Eastern Easter to be more historically accurate. Beyond which portion of Christianity has it “more correct” than the rest, it is also important for Christianity as a whole to have one, united Easter. Far from the sole reason being the awkwardness of explaining it to a supermarket cashier, the main reason, as the World Council of Churches (WCC) aptly explains, is that “by celebrating this feast of feasts on different days, the churches give a divided witness to this fundamental November. Similarly, Easter among the Christians in my aspect of the apostolic faith, should always be celebrated on own country – the United compromising their credibility the fourth Sunday in April, States. and effectiveness in bringing which this year is April 28, and Besides, America has long the Gospel to the world.” coincidentally is the date on led the world in progress, from Sure, traditionalists will which Eastern Easter is the invention of the electric stubbornly declare that we celebrated in 2019. light bulb, the telephone, the must stick to every detail What if the Orthodox in automobile, and the television stipulated in the other countries don’t follow set. Why should it not lead the aforementioned Council of this plan and stick to their own world in establishing a logical, Nicaea, which was held in Eastern Easter dates? Let ‘em! unified Easter? 325AD (1694 years ago), but While it would be great for Pay heed to the WCC’s we don’t. Certainly not insofar every Christian in the world to advice: if you’re trying to as Orthodox Churches use the celebrate Easter on the same attract skeptics to your faith, Gregorian calendar in every day (as long as it is after don’t turn them off by dogma other aspect of the practice of Passover), if there is any that has very little to do with their religion, not to mention division to be had, I’d rather it theology. their secular operations (such be among countries than as, the dates listed on their websites).