Serbian History 101

EASTER or PASCHA is THE most respected and honored holiday for all Orthodox Christians.  After a long journey of fasting and repentance,

....the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead is joyously proclaimed. 

All the doors of the church are left open during the whole Liturgy on Easter....proclaiming the Light and Joy of the Resurrection......

For a more thorough explanation of Easter services, be sure to visit the St. Paul the Apostle Serbian Orthodox Church in Las Vegas' website by clicking on this link to read about the Holy Gospel read this day.

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Sometimes both "American" and "Serbian" Easter fall on the same dates, sometimes one week later.  But Orthodox Christians find that Easter can also be several weeks away.  Why?

    This is due not only to the difference in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, but also Orthodox beliefs in relationship to Jewish Passover.  

    The American SRBOBRAN of April 3, 2002 gives us this explanation:

    "In many ancient calendars, the months were sent by the appearance of the new crescent moon in the western sky.  That was true of the Hebrew Calendar.  The 14th of Nisan, the first month of the old eclestiatial calendar of the Jews, marks the beginning of the Holy Season of the Jewish passover.  During this period of the Jewish year, Jesus was crucified.  The Last Supper was the Feast of the Passover.  Therefore the Jewish Passover and the Christian Easter are closely related.

    "The rule for determining the date of Easter was set by the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.  The Jewish Passover falls 14 days after the beginning of the month of Nisan at full moon and may fall on any day of the week.  The Council decided Easter should always fall on a Sunday following the Paschal or Passover full moon which is also the first full moon of the vernal equinox. 

    "The Council also wanted to keep Easter forever separated from Jewish Passover, and therefore decided that when the full moon and Passover itself come on a Sunday, Christian Easter would be observed a week later.

    "Easter in Eastern Orthodox churches is never celebrated before Jewish Passover because Christ Himself observed the Passover of the Last Supper before His betrayal. 

     "The Easter observed under the Gregorian calendar is set by calculations which consider other factors in addition to the lunar calculations, which account for other differences int he dates of observance."

Good Friday Services:  After all the lamentations are read, the congregation goes outside and around the church, following the church banners and flag, the priest, altar boys, and the cloth representing Jesus, pausing at  each  side or direction N/S/E/W of the church with prayers.

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Srecan USKRS! 

"Hristos Voskrese!" Christ is Risen!

"Vaistinu Voskrese!" Indeed He is risen! 

Hris-tos, Vos-kre-se
Iz mert-vih...... Christ is Risen from the dead, tramping out death by death, tramping out death by death, and upon those in the Tomb, bestowing life!

Incredible to see.... 

Super Altar boys at St. Elijah

"Hrist-os, Vos-kre-se iz Mer-tvih  Smerti-ju Smert Po-prav i Su-schim vo Grob-jeh, Zi-vot Dar-ova!"

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A poem by St. Nikolai Velimirovic


People rejoice, nations hear:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Stars dance, mounts sing:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Forests murmur, winds hum:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Seas bow, animals roar:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Bees swarm, and the birds sing:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!

Angels stand, triple the song:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Sky humble yourself, and elevate the earth:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Bells chime, and tell to all:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Glory to You God, everything is possible to You,
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!