In a rare occurrence, Easter this year falls on the same day for Roman Catholics and the Orthodox Christians who adhere to the Russian, Greek and other “eastern” churches. Because Roman Catholic holy days are determined by the Gregorian calendar while the Orthodox cycle is based on the Julian calendar, these sacred days rarely coincide. This decade, in fact, has been almost unparalleled.
In addition to this year, Easter coincided in 2010 and 2011, a phenomenon that will not be repeated for another 800 years.
Not quite as rare as the calendar coincidence, but still unusual, is the celebration that will take place this weekend in a modest church just off Commercial Drive.
St. John of Shanghai is the only English-language Orthodox church in Vancouver. Ancient traditions will unfold and ancient hymns sung, but all in the tongue most Vancouverites know. Because of the accessible language, St. John is a magnet for converts to Orthodoxy, including its priest, Father Justin Hewlett, who estimates about 90 per cent of his congregation originated in another tradition.
Just as the calendars diverge and converge, so do traditions in the two oldest branches of Christianity, which broke apart 960 years ago. It may be symbolic of their respective places in Canadian society that the Orthodox parishioners of St. John of Shanghai will celebrate Pascha, Easter, in a former convent rented from the far grander St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic church across the street.
For observant Christians of all stripes, Easter Sunday is the culmination of 40 intense days of spiritual preparation and, in many cases, intermittent fasting and self-denial. From the commemoration of Jesus’s crucifixion on what the Orthodox call Great and Holy Friday through the highlight of the Christian calendar on Sunday, the dichotomy of grief and joy that defines Easter weekend may be most starkly comprehended in the sudden change from solemn darkness to jubilant illumination that parishioners at St. John of Shanghai Orthodox Church will experience at midnight on Sunday.
At 11:30 Saturday night, the congregation will gather in darkness, singing solemn hymns and praying. Some will have spent the day at church, chanting the entire Psalter, all 151 Psalms.
A shroud, representing Jesus, which was ceremonially entombed on Friday is lifted to the altar before the congregation proceeds into the spring night, carrying candles.
Then they will circle the church three times before approaching the closed door of the church, where they will sing “Let God arise. Let His enemies be scattered” before Father Justin knocks. As the door opens, the priest will incant, “Christ is risen!” Congregants will reply “Indeed, he is risen.”
As they enter the church, they will encounter a world transformed. From darkness, the church has been decorated in white and is illuminated in the flames of countless candles. The tone of gravity that has defined the previous weeks, and especially the previous three days, changes to triumph and jubilation as the parishioners receive the Eucharist, the communion, before breaking into a party likely to last well into the early hours of the morning. Most of those present will have brought a Paschal basket, filled with the foods they have denied themselves through the Lenten period — meat, fish, cheese, eggs and especially a sweet Paschal bread. Wine will flow freely.
For Christians worldwide, this Sunday signifies the miracle at the core of the faith: that Jesus, the son of God, died at Calvary, carrying the sins of those who believe, and was resurrected on the third day, before ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of God.
In scores of languages, in almost every country on earth, employing rituals, prayers, hymns and traditions that differ vastly, more than one billion people will be united in belief and celebration. In Vancouver, which is home to Christians from around the world, both unity and diversity will be reflected in the way Easter is celebrated.
(Note: This story has been corrected since first posted)
This new Pacific Spirit column will explore Vancouver's religious and spiritual diversity, increasing understanding of our neighbour's beliefs, traditions and rituals. If you have an idea for a topic, email PacificSpiritPJ@gmail.com
