Orthodox Easter

Orthodox Easter History

Orthodox Easter, also known as Pascha, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, an event at the heart of Christian faith. The holy week preceding Orthodox Easter is marked by numerous church services, each representing a different stage of Christ's Passion, culminating in the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Due to the Julian calendar's application, Orthodox Easter often falls on a different date than Western Christian Easter. It's noted that the first Orthodox Christians in Australia were the Russian settlers who arrived in the 19th Century, and since then, the population has grown, particularly from the influx of Greek, Serbian, and Lebanese immigrants in the 20th Century. In Australia, Orthodox Easter has come to incorporate a mix of traditions from various Orthodox nationalities, making it a uniquely multicultural event.

In Australia, Orthodox Easter observances mirror worldwide Orthodox Easter practices but with a distinctive Australian touch. Parishioners attend liturgical services throughout Holy Week, which include the Divine Liturgy and the Midnight Office. On Easter Sunday, people gather with family and friends to break their Lenten fast and celebrate the Resurrection. Services often conclude with the distribution of red eggs symbolising Christ's blood. The dates for the celebration in Australia will typically coincide with the same dates that Orthodox Easter is observed globally. However, this celebration occurs after the Western Easter due to the use of a different calendar.

Top 9 Facts for 2026 Orthodox Easter in Australia

• While the widely observed public holidays for Easter in Australia follow the Gregorian calendar, the Orthodox observance of Pascha is calculated using the older Julian calendar, often resulting in a celebration that occurs one to five weeks later.
• A unique requirement for determining the date is that it must fall after the Jewish festival of Passover to maintain the biblical sequence of the Resurrection occurring after the Pesach celebrations.
• One of the most recognizable traditions in Australian households is the preparation of hard-boiled eggs dyed a deep crimson red, which symbolizes the blood of Christ and the promise of eternal life.
• Many families participate in a competitive game known as tsougrisma, where individuals tap their red eggs against others to see whose shell remains uncracked, a custom believed to bring the winner good luck for the remainder of the year.
• The transition from the Lenten fast to the feast is often marked by the consumption of tsoureki, a sweet, brioche-like bread flavored with aromatic mahlepi and mastic resins, often adorned with a red egg nestled in the dough.
• In major Australian cities with large Greek and Eastern European populations, the Holy Week culminations include the late-night Epitaphios procession on Good Friday, where a symbolic funeral bier is carried through the streets or around the church grounds.
• The most significant liturgical event occurs at midnight on Saturday, when the church lights are extinguished and the "Holy Light" is passed from the priest’s candle to the congregants, who then carry their flickering lambades home to bless their dwellings.
• Traditional festive meals in Australia frequently center on a slow-roasted lamb on a spit, representing the Lamb of God, and the serving of magiritsa, a traditional offal and lettuce soup designed to gently break the forty-day fast.
• Throughout the celebration, Australians of various Orthodox backgrounds—including Greek, Serbian, Russian, and Macedonian communities—exchange the joyful greeting of Christos anesti, which translates to "Christ is risen," receiving the traditional response of Alithos anesti.

In the News and Trending in Australia for Orthodox Easter

Top things to do in Australia for Orthodox Easter

• Wear some new clothes to church. This is an ancient tradition that goes back to the early church when newly baptized persons were given a white gown to wear on Easter.
• Take an Easter basket to an Orthodox church and have it blessed. Some Eastern Orthodox Church members put together special baskets with particular items that symbolize different aspects of their faith. These items often include bread, wine, salt, cheese, ham, and horseradish.
• Attend the Easter Show in Sydney: Although it's not exclusively an Orthodox event, this annual event is a popular attraction around Easter time featuring agricultural displays, food & wine showcases, and entertainment.
• Prepare traditional meals for the occasion of Orthodox Easter in Australia:
  1) Avgolemono Soup: A traditional Greek soup made of chicken broth, rice, and lemon, often enjoyed as a starter on the Orthodox Easter table.
  2) Red Eggs: Eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ, and are a key element of the Orthodox Easter celebration. They are often used in the game of egg tapping or egg cracking, to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus.
  3) Spanakopita: A Greek spinach and feta pie which would make a tasty addition to an Easter feast.