Is it possible to carry eggs to a cemetery? Rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ

The Holy Apostle Paul says that if Christ has not been resurrected, then our faith is in vain. But since Christ has risen, we rejoice. This is the main dogma of our faith, our life, because the Lord suffered, was crucified, died for us and rose again, that is, he opened the doors to eternity, to the kingdom of heaven for everyone and gave us this joy. This is a great joy, on the eve of which the apostles, the Mother of God and the myrrh-bearing women were in sorrow. But the Lord said that joy would soon come, and no one would take this joy away from people. Indeed, when the Lord rose again, everyone began to say to each other: "Christ is risen" . And they answered: "Truly Risen" . And this expression spread throughout the world. This is how we greet each other at Easter ever since.

This joy is special, and the soul of every person on this day is joyful, because people are sent such grace from God that a person cannot express - this is an internal state. St. Augustine said that the soul is Christian by nature. This sense of Christianity is renewed at Easter, just as flowers awaken and bloom in spring. They willy-nilly go towards the sun, because the time has come for them to flourish. So the soul of man awakened, because Easter came.
/ Photo: Irina Domoratskaya

– How should Easter be celebrated according to Orthodox tradition?
– First of all, we need to go to the temple. Pray, attend the service. On this day, parishioners in the church remember biblical events and ask that now the Lord grant his grace and help and consecrated dishes to our health, help, and joy. Consecrating food is like giving thanks to God: we must always remember that the Lord sends everything to us. After returning from church, the head of the family blesses the table, reads “Our Father,” and only then does everyone have breakfast. Everyone eats the blessed Easter cake, Easter cottage cheese and colored eggs. According to church regulations, adults are allowed to drink a little wine. After breakfast, children can play various games: roll eggs, play cue ball. According to tradition, Christians paint eggs, which are a symbol of Easter and eternal life. You can also exchange gifts and souvenirs during the holiday.

– How does your family celebrate Easter?
– We celebrate the holiday like everyone else. We come from the temple at five in the morning and go to rest. And later the whole family sits down at the table, sings the troparion, distributes colored eggs to the children, fights with colored eggs and has breakfast. In the afternoon we participate in the Easter matinee at Sunday school, which is usually held at three o'clock. After the matinee we return home. Children relax, play, meet with friends, congratulate each other on Easter. Then the whole family prepares for the evening service.

– It has become a tradition that people go to the cemetery on Easter and remember the dead. Is it correct?
- No. The times of persecution are over... Earlier, in Soviet times, people went to the cemetery, because the cemetery was consecrated and was considered a holy place. During the times of atheism, churches were destroyed and people went to the cemetery because there were crosses there and they could pray. People still have this habit, but it needs to be changed. Times have changed, and, following the tradition of the church, one must go to church on Easter. And we go to the cemetery at Radonitsa. This day is established by the Holy Church to commemorate the dead and is translated as “procession to the cemetery” in order to share Easter joy with them.

– Is it acceptable to bring colored eggs to the cemetery and leave alcohol and various foods there?
– There is no need to bring eggs to graves. You need to bring flowers to the grave. You can take a candle or lamp with you, light it on the grave and pray. And the “table” should be set up at home and at home to remember the dead. Drinking in the cemetery and spilling alcohol on the grave is prohibited.

– Tell me, how should you prepare for Easter?
– On Maundy Thursday, the 12 Passionate Gospels are read and the Last Supper is remembered. The Lord established the holy sacrament of the Eucharist and blessed us on this day to symbolically eat the body and blood of Christ. Therefore, on Maundy Thursday people tried to take communion and cleanse their souls of sins and thoughts. Usually they washed and cleaned the house not on Thursday, but the day before. On Maundy Thursday, they tried not to work in the field, not to plant a vegetable garden, but dedicated this day to God. Strict fasting is observed on Friday. They do not eat food until the evening; they can only drink water. There are concessions for the infirm and children. On Saturday, a service is held, which during the day passes from the guard service to the Easter service. Somewhere at 12 o'clock in the afternoon, the priests dress in festive white attire, and in the evening a festive Divine service is held. Believers observe fasting, but after lunch, food with oil is allowed, especially for the weak and infirm.

– Before consecrating the testicles, some parishioners partially clean the shell. Is this necessary?
- No no need. This is a superstition by which a Christian shows his lack of faith in the power of holy water. And the power of holy water is such that even one drop of it sanctifies the sea.

Happy Resurrection of Christ!

I want to congratulate all people on the upcoming Easter. It is she who gives us strength, and the Lord charges us for the whole year until next Easter. Therefore, I wish that everyone would forgive each other’s offenses, reconcile with each other and go to God’s temple with faith, consecrate Easter eggs, Easter cakes, and other dishes, and that Easter joy would remain with all people throughout the year.

Rector of St. Tikhon's Church in the city

Everyone knows that after the festive service, returning home from church for the first time after a forty-day fast, believers sit down at the festive table and break their fast, that is, they eat fasting food, which is previously blessed in the church. Usually these are Easter cakes, Easter cottage cheese and painted Easter eggs.

“Spells and rituals for Easter”

Easter cakes shine on Saturday evening. I am convinced that to sanctify You ONLY need Easter, eggs and Easter cake. We always add a beautiful small artificial flower, which we then use to decorate the icons. My grandmother also put one unpainted egg, which was eaten when breaking the fast along with the colored ones. But not everyone does this, this is an old custom from the area where she was born.

Easter cake, Easter and eggs are placed on a large dish, the dish is placed on a new clean white towel or piece of cloth (linen or cotton, not artificial!) and tied in a knot. In church, the knot is placed on a bench and carefully untied. After consecration, they tie it back. The towel is stored until next Easter - this is famous Easter towel (towel), which relieves many diseases. The towel is washed only on the next Maundy Thursday and used again to bless the Easter cake.

I believe that there is no need to bring the entire festive table to church - 5 types of sausage, lard, ham, pies, fish, wine... You can see everything... I even saw vodka in some of them. It’s hard to imagine greater blasphemy... But if you like to get drunk on blessed vodka on Easter - the church is loyal to this - bring it... Father will wince, but he will illuminate everything that you brought... I think that it is better to put more dyes in this place - they will be useful later in the treatment sick, removing damage, etc. You cannot give away consecrated paints - only unconsecrated ones.

Breaking the fast on Sunday morning, or immediately after All-night vigil - who went to it. You can’t sleep during the all-night vigil - health and good luck sleep. If you couldn’t go to church, light a candle and read your prayers – you can turn on the live broadcast of the service.

They break their fast like this: Everyone washes, dresses, sits down at a festively set table, on which stands the blessed Easter, Easter cake and eggs. Lighting an Easter candle(it glows together with the Easter cake, then goes out and lights up in the morning when breaking the fast and reading a prayer; if it burns out, light another one.), they read prayers if there is time - morning, Easter, if not - “Our Father” and “Theotokos” (usually This is done by the eldest man in the family - the Master, if there are no men - the eldest woman. If the eldest is on her critical days, then the next one). Please note - at the Passover meal Only family members gather, friends and acquaintances are not invited to the Easter feast!

“Spells and rituals for Easter”

The elder divides the blessed egg, Easter cake and Easter into the number of people present at the table. This piece of egg symbolizes happiness, health and good luck for everyone for the whole year, so even if you don’t like such food, these pieces MUST be eaten. The owner pours everyone some holy water (they drink in three sips). There is an opinion that Easter cake and eggs should not be cut with a knife, but only broken - I do not share it, but if you find it unpleasant to cut Easter cake with a knife and you think that something will follow, break it with your hands, gnaw it, saw it with a spoon :))) ...),

Having tried everything and washed it down with holy water, I begin to eat the rest of the fast food. Breakfast smoothly flows into lunch. There is no dinner on Easter Sunday.

AND every morning of Holy Week They begin the same way - by reading prayers and breaking their fast. For every day - one sacred egg or half, a piece, a small piece of sacred Easter cake and Easter.

Important - sanctified Easter cakes and eggs cannot be carried to the cemetery. AND when they exchange testicles- also unsacred (I paint a lot, then I consecrate a few, I always leave a few consecrated ones and put them on the shelf with icons - it does not deteriorate at all and just dries out). Out of curiosity, as a child, I remember breaking such eggs - I couldn’t believe that an egg could sit for many months and not go rotten. Really - if there is “grace” in the house– the inside of the egg is not spoiled, but dried without any unpleasant odor.

Interesting fact - if a bad person or someone with bad intentions has been in the house, as they say “with the evil eye” - even old, already dried Easter eggs immediately begin to emit a strong rotten smell. Tested more than once. The fact is that they absorb negativity directed against you and your home. Unfortunately, after this they have to be thrown away. I also broke these out of curiosity - there was blackness, mold, and some kind of slime inside. This is despite the fact that before such a “visit” the eggs lay quietly for several months, or even years.

In general, there is such a sign - if a blessed Easter egg in your house has spoiled or the Epiphany water has gone rotten- We urgently need to consecrate the house - something is wrong there. It is advisable to invite a priest.

Blessed eggs, Easter cake and Easter It is forbidden to throw it in the trash can, toilet, or in general in the trash. Burn it too. They need to be fed to the birds if they have spoiled (did not have time to eat). Dogs are not allowed. Shells from blessed eggs It is also not advisable to throw it away. It is dried and used for treatment (water is infused, ground in a coffee grinder and added at the tip of a knife to the patient’s food). This is a very valuable healing agent. If you can’t wait to destroy it, throw it into a river or stream.

Many argue over the issue of whether or not to go to the cemetery on Easter. The priests say that this is a joyful day and it should not be overshadowed by communication with the deceased. If you are shedding tears and grieving at the cemetery, it is undoubtedly better to postpone the trip until a special day (Radunitsa - Tuesday after Easter).

During Easter week you need to say hello “Christ is Risen”, and answer “Truly He is Risen”(The priests speak Old Slavonic “resurrection”) You can go to visit with colored eggs.

They exchange eggs and knock. If an egg broke, the one whose egg remained intact took it. But with practice, you can learn to keep your egg intact. To do this, it is held “pinchwise” in a certain way.

Easter is an Old Testament institution. The Jews wanted to leave Egypt to return to their homeland. But the pharaoh, who had them captive, wishing to enrich himself with free labor, did not release them.

During the years of this captivity, the Lord more than once sent signs to Pharaoh through his servant Moses, so that Pharaoh would release the people to the Promised Land. The last thing God commanded the Egyptian people while the Jews were in their captivity was to slaughter an angel (that is, a lamb) and anoint the doorposts with his blood. This had to be done because the destroying angel was supposed to come that night and kill all the firstborn of the land of Egypt. But if the blood of a lamb is on the door, the destroying angel will pass by the house.

Jesus Christ became such a lamb, but already in the New Testament. “Easter” is precisely translated as “procession by,” procession past death. On the feast of the Resurrection of Christ, we, partaking of the Body and Blood of the Angle of God, as Christ calls himself, become anointed with His blood. And death passes us by. Easter is eternal life, liberation from death. Christians have found the recipe that makes a person immortal.

Why bless food for Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

The consecration of not only food, but also other material things surrounding a Christian is an ancient tradition. When we sanctify something, we dedicate it to God and ask for God’s blessing on it.

On Easter we bring food to the temple. In villages at the beginning of the 20th century, in general, everything that was put on the table for Easter was brought to the temple, blessed, and the tithe (tenth) was left for those in need. And only after this did people break their fast - they reverently ate the consecrated holiday food.

I think it’s a very good tradition to ask God for a blessing for everything.

How to fast before Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

On Good Friday - the strictest fast. According to the Charter, you are not supposed to eat anything at all on this day. If you can bear it for health reasons, try it. On all other days of Holy Week, fasting is also strict; we eat only plant foods, and without oil.

When can you break your fast on Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

Breaking the fast (the first fast meal after the end of Lent) on Easter is usually celebrated after the Liturgy and Communion. If you attended the Liturgy at night, then after the night service you can begin the festive meal. If you came to the Liturgy in the morning, then you can break your fast in the same way - after communion. The main thing is that everything needs to be approached with a sense of proportion. Don't overeat.

If for some reason you cannot celebrate Easter in church, you can begin to break your fast around the time when the festive Liturgy ends in churches. What is good about the Church in this regard? We fast together and break our fast together. That is, we do everything together. This is what the modern world is so lacking - community.

How to spend Easter correctly? Are there things you shouldn't do?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

On this day you cannot be sad, walk gloomily and quarrel with your neighbors. But just remember that Easter is not 24 hours, but at least a whole week - Bright Week. Liturgically, the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated for seven days.

Let this week be an example of how we should always behave in society, among people.

How should you spend Easter? Rejoice, treat others, invite them to visit you, visit the suffering. In a word, everything that brings joy to your neighbor, and therefore to you.

What can you eat on Easter and can you drink alcohol on Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

On Easter you can eat and drink everything, the main thing is to do it in moderation. If you know how to stop in time, you can help yourself to all the dishes, drink wine or some strong drinks - without getting too drunk, of course. But if it is difficult for you to limit yourself, it is better not to touch alcohol. Rejoice in spiritual joy.

Is it possible to work on Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

Most often, the question of whether to work or not does not depend on us. If Easter Sunday is your day off, that's of course very good. You can visit the temple, meet your loved ones, and congratulate everyone.

But it often happens that we find ourselves as forced people and, according to our work schedule, are forced to work on Easter. There's nothing wrong with putting in the effort. Maybe you can be sad about this, but no more than five minutes! Obedience is obedience. Do your work on this day conscientiously. If you fulfill your duties in simplicity and truth, the Lord will definitely touch your heart.

Is it possible to do homework on Easter? Cleaning, knitting, sewing.

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

When we read somewhere that there is a ban on homework on a holiday, we should understand that it is not just a ban, but a blessing for us to spend this time paying attention to the Lord, the holiday and our neighbors. So that we don’t get hung up on the vanity of the world. The ban on work on Easter is not canonical, it is rather a pious tradition.

Household chores are an integral part of our lives. You can do them on holiday, but only if you approach it wisely. So as not to spend Easter doing spring cleaning until the early hours of the night. Sometimes it is better, for example, to leave unwashed dishes in the sink than to be annoyed by household members who did not wash their dishes.

What does it mean if a person dies on Easter? Is this a sign of God's special mercy or a punishment?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

If a believer dies on Easter or Bright Week, for us this is truly a sign of God’s mercy towards this person. Popular tradition even says that those who die on Easter enter the Kingdom of Heaven without ordeal, that is, bypassing the Last Judgment. But this is “folk theology”; dogmatically, every person will be judged and will give an answer for their sins before the face of God.

If a non-believer dies these days, then, I think, this means absolutely nothing. After all, even during his life, the Resurrection of Christ was not for him a sign of deliverance from death...

Is it possible to go to the cemetery on Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

There has never been such a tradition in the Church. She was born among people during the Soviet Union, when people were deprived of spiritual communication and removed from the Church. Where else was it possible to meet with the afterlife, about which the Church speaks and with the belief in the existence of which the authorities so cruelly fought? Only at the cemetery. No one could forbid going to relatives’ graves.

Since then, it has become a custom to go to the cemetery on Easter. But now that churches are open and we can go to Easter services, it is better to go to the cemetery to visit loved ones on other days. For example, on Radonitsa - on the day when, according to tradition, the Church commemorates the dead. Arrive there early, put the graves in order, sit quietly next to them and pray. Read more about visiting the cemetery.

How should we greet each other on Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

Easter greeting is angelic. When the Myrrh-Bearing Women came to the Holy Sepulcher to anoint the body of the crucified Christ with incense, they saw an Angel there. He told them: “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”, that is, he told them that the Savior had risen.

We greet our brothers and sisters in faith on Easter with the words “Christ is Risen!” and answer the greeting: “Truly he is risen!” Thus, we tell the whole world that for us the Resurrection of Christ is the basis of life.

What is customary to give for Easter?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

On Easter, you can give your neighbors any pleasant and necessary gifts. And it will be good if you add an Easter egg, decorated or red, to any gift. The egg as a symbol is evidence of new life - the Resurrection of Christ.

The red color of the Easter egg is a memory of the legend according to which Mary Magdalene gave an egg to Emperor Tiberius for Easter. The Emperor told her that he did not believe that a person could be resurrected, that it was as incredible as if this egg suddenly turned from white to red. And, according to legend, a miracle happened - in front of everyone, the egg turned red, like the blood of Christ. Now the painted egg is a symbol of Easter, the Resurrection of the Savior.

What to do with shells from blessed eggs and stale Easter cake?

Archpriest Igor Fomin answers

Pious tradition tells us not to throw away with the trash what is consecrated in the temple. All this can be burned, for example, on a personal plot, and buried where people and animals will not trample on it.

Why can't you dye eggs until they're a year old?

How can this not be done? Who said that? It is possible and even necessary to involve children in this. They and you will be happy about it.

You need to be very careful if the watery phrase of some recommendation follows “but I heard that... and they told me...”. This analogy turns out to be a broken phone. Such advice will not lead to any good.

The Soviet era, of course, also brought something of its own, for example, everyone began to go to the cemetery en masse on Easter, and the holiday, which denies death, faded into the background. We already live in the victory of Christ. This is all, unfortunately, forgotten. Some buses, trips, drinks begin.

But this does not mean that you need to stop going to the cemetery, no.

Here we are talking about the fact that Easter is a great joy, so it is not a time to be sad, you need to leave all worldly troubles and worries and devote this day to God, the memory of His resurrection, the victory of life over death. At the same time, we can pray for our loved ones and share this joy with them with all our hearts. God has no dead, he gave us the prospect of eternal life, and we hope for his mercy.

When should you not clean your house before Easter?

Father Alexander Abramov answers

There is spiritual hygiene, it consists in the fact that during Holy Week we should really try to protect ourselves from all sorts of entertainment, routine affairs, and everyday vanity. We need to go to church more. And it is clear that it is advisable to put things in order in advance so as not to miss important events, services of Holy Week.

But this is not an absolute prohibition, because life exists and common sense exists. The problem is that when people come to church, they have not yet acquired spiritual common sense, but their everyday common sense has already been turned off, and this creates such an excellent space for filling their heads with all sorts of nonsense.

Is it possible to get married on Easter?

Archpriest Alexander Abramov answers

The question is very clear and the answer will be clear. If you come to church on Bright Week, they will tell you that you cannot get married.

There are days established by the Church on which weddings take place - these are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

There are days of the week, regardless of the time of year, when weddings do not take place, for example, on fasting days or on Saturday.

For example, why don't they get married on Tuesday? Because in this case, the first wedding day will fall on a fast day. Well, what kind of beginning of family life is this if the very first day is already fraught with restrictions.

They don’t get married on Saturday, the day before Sunday, because Sunday is Little Easter and, in a good way, a person on this day should lead a religious life, not a personal one.

It is clear that many people are inclined to neglect all these traditions of church life, but in order to prevent the neglect from becoming so wild, they simply do not have weddings these days.

Bright Week is just like one day of Easter. Great celebration of the Holy Resurrection of Christ. And all attention, of course, is focused on this.

Therefore, weddings do not take place during Bright Week either. This is the liturgical system.

This is not because the church disdains weddings or people who want to arrange their family life. And simply because we completely devote this time to celebrating Easter - this is a time of universal joy.

Is it possible to remember on Easter?

Archpriest Alexander Abramov answers

If we talk about church order, the first memorial service is celebrated on Radonitsa (the day of special remembrance of the dead) - this is Tuesday of the second week after Easter. In many churches there was such a pious tradition - funeral tables, the place where candles are placed, are covered with cloth, thereby showing that God has no dead. And this is especially clear during Easter week. Easter is the most joyful Christian holiday; it displaces all sorrow and sadness from the hearts of believers.

As the scripture says: « God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living» (Mark 12:27) Naturally, you can commemorate, that is, say “God rest…” and say the name of the person for whom you are praying. How can we not do this if we love our family and friends and of course there is a desire to convey this to God.

Funeral services in the church (requiem services) on Bright Week are completely abolished, since this is a time of our joy in the Risen Christ, and not sorrow. But this does not mean that the priest does not mention the repose of people during the liturgy.

Is it possible to bury on Easter?

Archpriest Alexander Abramov answers

If the death takes place on Bright Week, then the funeral service is performed with a special rite, Easter. It is especially touching regarding infants, because their sinlessness and belonging to Easter are immediately affirmed.

Is it possible to baptize before Easter?

Archpriest Alexander Abramov answers

A short excursion into history.

It is interesting that in ancient times the church did not baptize individually at all. This is what we have now. We are transferring consumer habits to the church.

For example, we came to the clinic and it seemed completely crazy to us that we would be seen at the same time with four other people. And we think the same way about christenings. But before they were baptized completely differently.

Firstly, people were baptized not in a church, but, as a rule, in open reservoirs, and two or three days a year were chosen for this. People were prepared, talked to, they were taught in the faith, if we are talking about adults, and then either on Christmas Eve, Epiphany (Epiphany), or on Holy Saturday everyone was baptized together.

There are days when it would be inappropriate to talk about Baptism, say on Good Friday, when we are entirely focused on the Passion, the suffering of Christ. Although I, simply even for reasons of some kind of piety and reverence for God, would not baptize during Holy Week.

But generally speaking, you can receive the sacrament of Baptism at any time, including during Bright Week.

Why can't you dye eggs for Easter?

In general, it is customary for us to illuminate Easter cakes and eggs on Holy Saturday, that is, immediately before Easter.

Therefore, we are preparing for this day in advance. But since situations in life are different, you can consecrate your holiday gifts on the day of Great Easter itself, this will not be considered something unnatural. Previously, even before the revolution, Easter cakes and eggs were blessed just after the night Easter service before breaking the fast.

As for preparing for the holiday, it is advisable to do everything in advance so that you have time for the most important thing. To meet the Bright Resurrection of Christ, you could come to meet God with joy, a light heart, leaving all your troubles and worries behind.

A Great Event took place and it is necessary to remember it, it must become the center of everything.

Why can't you eat eggs before Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

The bright Easter days are preceded by Lent, when we tried to abstain as much as possible from heavy food (of animal origin), that is, to keep ourselves in a certain focus, one might even say in tone, pushing ourselves to inner work. That is, we do not eat not only eggs, but, in principle, all products of animal origin, as we observe fasting. There are no other superstitious reasons not to eat eggs.

On Holy Saturday we come to the temple to bless eggs, Easter cakes, and Easter cakes, which will decorate our holiday table.

And after the Easter service with our family, we break our fast, that is, now we can allow ourselves to taste the festive dishes without a twinge of conscience, but it is also important to observe the measure, not to eat too much right away, since this is a very big burden for our body.

We rejoice, the holiday has come and now it’s time to feast.

What should you not do on the Saturday before Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

There are no clear prohibitions. Each person has his own, unique life. It is shrouded in so many circumstances and nuances that it is difficult to say anything in advance. Just as it is impossible to condemn anyone for this reason.

But, of course, it is worth remembering that Holy Saturday is a day of sacred extinction. It is also called “Sabbath of Rest.”

We still grieve over the death of Christ. We remember His removal from the cross and His placing in the tomb. One of the key chants of this day contains the words “Let all human flesh be silent.”

But we are all already standing on the threshold of the Great Day and Holiday.

We are waiting for the hour when we can exclaim “Christ is Risen!”

But now we have to kind of freeze. There is a lull on the eve of something very significant.

And of course, on this day we should not talk about any fun festivities or excessive troubles and worries.

Everything needs to be postponed if possible. Be at Liturgy in the morning. And maintain silence and peace in your soul until the start of the Easter service.

Why can't you celebrate a birthday on Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

Easter is the greatest day of the year. A celebration of life. We glorify our Savior Jesus Christ for His boundless love and kindness, for giving us eternal life. And of course this event in the life of every person should become central.

Therefore, celebrating a birthday cannot be more important than Easter.

On the other hand, there are no prohibitions on this either.

You just need to remember that this is a Bright Day.

And I wouldn’t want to overshadow it with excessive drunkenness, for example, or other indecent things.

Because many people, unfortunately, associate their birthday with having a blast. And Easter is not the right time for this. Even based on respect for the traditions of the church and reverence for God.

Is it possible to hunt on Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

If you hunt for fun, then definitely not on any day. After all, this is the killing of living beings.

Sometimes people hunt in order to simply not die of hunger, then this is acceptable, there is already a question of survival.

Or, for example, when it is a matter of earning money, which also allows you to survive. The main thing is that this does not become mercantile entertainment.

As for the Easter days, any Orthodox believer will try to postpone hunting for this period, unless he is in emergency conditions, when he needs to act according to the situation.

Is it possible to receive communion on Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

It is possible and even necessary. It’s just worth preparing for the Sacrament of Communion in advance. And the point here is not only in fasting, but, most importantly, in cleansing the heart and mind.

It is necessary to go to Confession. You can do this on Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday of Holy Week. But a more detailed schedule should be checked with the temple where you are going to come.

In any case, you need to look at the circumstances. If suddenly, for some reason, you did not have time to prepare in advance, then you should ask the priest for a blessing for Communion, explaining your situation.

Recently, official permission has appeared to allow people to receive Communion on Easter without confession. But this right still remains at the discretion of the priest. Because people are all different.

The main thing is not to be silent, do not listen to someone else’s advice, if you have a question, then go directly to the one who will help resolve it, in this case - to the priest.

Is it possible to go to the Cemetery on Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

In the life of the Church, everything is arranged very wisely. Each tradition or ritual has its own meaning. And everything has its place in it.

We can remember our relatives and friends who have died in our own prayers, this is our right and, moreover, it is very important both for us and for those whose memory we honor.

Can pregnant women go to the cemetery on Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

Pregnant women can go to the cemetery, like everyone else. But, according to Orthodox tradition, on Easter don't visit cemeteries.

Since Easter is not the time to remember the dead. This is general joy, general rejoicing and glorification of our Savior Jesus Christ. The first commemoration of the dead after Easter takes place on Radonitsa.

When can you go to confession before Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

Of course, it’s better to come to confession early and not put it off until the last minute.

Confession will be possible on Holy Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday of Holy Week.

But you will need to check more accurate information about the time in the temple where you are going to come. Since each temple has its own way of life.

What to wear to church for Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

You can choose any outfit to suit your taste, but it is important to remember where you are going. And try to look neat and not too provocative.

Is it possible for pregnant women to cook Easter cakes and Easter cakes?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

Of course you can, but only carefully. In the sense that expectant mothers are very vulnerable and they need to be more careful about their health. So as not to get too tired.

And preparing for the Great Holiday is always a pleasant and joyful thing.

Is it possible to work the week after Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

Work is a very individual matter. Someone has the opportunity to take time off, take a short vacation during Easter week and completely devote this period to God. Get to know the traditions of the life of the Church better. But some people simply don’t have this opportunity. So it is difficult to take any categorical position here. Ideally, of course, it would be nice to attend the Easter liturgy again in the first days of Bright Week; in many churches religious processions are held throughout Bright Week. This is the Joy that it is a pity to deprive yourself of.

What can you do on Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

In principle, there are no specific restrictions here.

Lent has ended as a period of deprivation and severity towards oneself.

The time has come for Great joy; now is not the time to be despondent and sad.

Do what brings you joy. Communicate with your loved ones and friends, share with them the joy of the Risen Christ.

Just don’t forget about the most important thing that we have been achieving through all these weeks of Lent. Try to attend the Easter Liturgy at least once more (in many churches religious processions are also held throughout Bright Week) - do not deprive yourself of this joy.

Is it possible to guess before Easter?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers

You can never guess. Yes friends, that's true.

What's so bad about fortune telling, you ask.

Firstly, this is disrespect for the Will of God. Secondly, this is a disregard for the freedom that the Lord has endowed each of us from birth.

When we use even a comic, as it seems to us, fortune-telling, when we receive an answer, we program ourselves for certain actions.

And the most interesting thing is that this happens unconsciously.

In social psychology there is such a thing as a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” In childhood, parents can impose some kind of attitude on a child, for example, “you are incompetent.” And this attitude will greatly interfere with his life. Unconsciously, he will act in such a way as to confirm it in every possible way, dooming himself to failure in advance.

Many years will pass before he tries to figure out what's what.

And here the scheme is very similar. We learn some prediction about ourselves and at this moment we are deprived of freedom of choice, freedom of action, since everything will now work for this installation.

If you identify with the world of the church, you will have to make a choice.

What and who do you believe in? If you are with God, then you must trust Him, otherwise there is no other way.

Easter is the most important holiday of the Christian church, because the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of all Christianity. The Apostle Paul said: “If Christ were not resurrected, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain.” This holiday is celebrated by all Christians - Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants.

The days before Easter, starting with Lazarus Saturday (Saturday before Palm Sunday) are special. It is better to finish everyday chores - cleaning, cooking Easter cakes and others - before Thursday, and spend the remaining days in the temple, and not in the pre-holiday bustle. It is prayer that will give understanding of this holiday.

This year the Annunciation falls on Holy Saturday (April 7). When this holiday is celebrated during Lent, it is permitted to eat fish. But Holy Saturday is the day when Christians observe the strictest fast, so this year you cannot eat fish for the Annunciation.

What needs to be sanctified

The blessing of food on Easter is permission to eat food after Lent. It does not give food supernatural powers. Products that need to be blessed on Easter: meat, cheese, cottage cheese and eggs are mentioned in two prayers read at the consecration of Easter food. These prayers say nothing about bread, salt, vegetables and other foods. And it would be illogical to consecrate them, since there is no ban on eating them during Lent.

Why are eggs painted?

The main attributes of Easter are colored eggs and Easter cakes. Easter cakes and cottage cheese symbolize the tomb of Christ, from which life shone. And the eggs, which symbolize life, are connected with a story from church tradition: Mary Magdalene reached Rome preaching about Christ and was received by Emperor Tiberius. Mary brought him a chicken egg and said, “Christ is Risen.” Tiberius replied: “I would rather believe that a chicken egg turns red before my eyes than believe your words.” And then the egg in Mary Magdalene’s hand turned red. In memory of this miracle, which confirmed the events of the Resurrection, Christians paint eggs.

Nowadays people paint eggs different colors. More appropriate, of course, is red, but other colors are allowed. By the way, there is no need to peel eggs during consecration: God’s grace is omnipresent and can pass through the shell.

What cannot be sanctified

It is inappropriate to bless money in church, because this will not increase wealth. There is no need to put crosses and icons in the food basket. You should not bless honey, apples and water on Easter, because the church has separate days for this.

Is it worth going to the cemetery on Easter?

Easter joy must be brought to the dead when Bright Week ends - on Radonitsa. It is inappropriate to visit the departed on Easter, since these days should be spent in church and praying. You should not bring colored eggs and Easter cakes to the dead; feasts in the cemetery are a relic of paganism. The last funeral services before Easter are performed on Maundy Thursday. Throughout Holy Week (until Sunday after Easter), no funeral services are celebrated. But it is possible and necessary to submit notes for the repose of the deceased, because it would be dishonest not to pray for them these days. Notes can be submitted throughout Holy Week, except for Good Friday, when the liturgy is not held.

On Tuesday of the second week after Easter Sunday, Orthodox people celebrate a special day of remembrance - the parental day, called Radonitsa. Since nine days have already passed since Easter, many have reasonable questions: are eggs painted on Radonitsa and are Easter cakes baked on Radonitsa? On the one hand, if a lot of food was prepared for the holiday, then something else may remain, and when the expiration date allows, then why not take them to the cemetery. On the other hand, if there are no preparations left, then is it necessary to specially prepare these symbolic products in order to arrange a memorial meal on parent’s day?

And if necessary, what exactly is customary to cook on this day? And is it necessary to additionally consecrate this food before going to the resting place of relatives? We have collected the most detailed answers to these and other burning topics to help understand the intricacies of ancient Slavic traditions and religious rules.

According to church traditions, on this day it is necessary to remember deceased relatives and friends, and this should be done with Easter eggs and Easter cakes. Moreover, an important condition is that these symbolic products must be consecrated in the church. Therefore, if you do not have any blessed colored eggs left from the great holiday, then you will have to paint them in advance before the memorial day and go to church to consecrate them. and directly to Radonitsa, since on this day it is not prohibited to engage in work. Then do this before going to church, after the service, bless the food and then go to the cemetery. Actually, the clergy say that regardless of whether you need to bless food or not, visiting the temple on Radonitsa before going to the churchyard is mandatory.

We've sorted out the question of whether eggs are painted for Parents' Day, now let's find out what colors are best to do this in. It is believed that eggs should be painted red and brown for Easter, which echoes the biblical story. But for Radonitsa it is preferable to use green and yellow colors. People associate this with the fact that Radonitsa falls on the so-called “green” week, which is why this color scheme is chosen. In addition, in the Slavic tradition, shades of green were considered the color of the world of the dead and sadness. This is why it is recommended to paint eggs separately on Radonitsa - to guess the color.

In order to get the desired shade of eggs, it is not necessary to resort to modern dyes. Everything you need for painting is literally at hand. To do this, you will need to go to the market or take a walk to the nearest park to get the ingredients.

To obtain a green color scheme, you can choose from:

• birch leaves;
• nettle;
• sorrel;
• spinach.

The leaves of these plants can be used to obtain shades ranging from light green to yellowish. To prepare a coloring decoction, pour any amount of leaves with a liter of water and boil them for about fifteen minutes. The more greenery you add, the richer the color will be. After the broth boils, leave it to brew for an hour.

In the meantime, you need to prepare the eggs for painting.

1. Cool the boiled eggs to room temperature.
2. Dry them thoroughly.
3. Degrease the surface by wiping with a cotton swab dipped in vodka.
4. Check that the shell is intact and without cracks.

After an hour, lower the eggs into the infused broth, bring to a boil and cook over low heat for ten minutes. After this, remove to a napkin and let the eggs cool.

How to set a funeral table

It is equally important to take Easter cakes to the cemetery, and it will be better if you take freshly baked Easter cakes. If the housewife has absolutely no time for the long process of kneading yeast dough and baking, then you can get by with store-bought Easter cakes. During this period, they are still sold in sufficient quantities in bakeries and supermarkets, knowing that many people will need them on Radonitsa. The main thing is that you have time to take the Easter cakes to the church to be blessed, since this is a key condition for the parent’s memorial day.

But our ancestors’ traditional memorial meals on Radonitsa consisted not only of colored eggs and Easter cakes. In different parts of the big country, people prepared numerous dishes. Yes, in terms of wealth they were inferior to the Easter feasts, but still no one left the table hungry.

Traditional dishes on Radonitsa

People brought some of the various dishes to the church so that the mendicants who were cared for by the parish would have a good lunch. In modern times, this compassionate tradition is also met with gratitude. And from the generally accepted dishes, each housewife is free to choose what she likes to cook and according to her culinary capabilities. But the key dishes that must be present at the meal on Radonitsa will be colored eggs, Easter cakes and kutia.

Many traditions of how our ancestors commemorated the dead on Radonitsa have migrated into modern life, but the Orthodox Church has a clearly negative attitude towards them. In particular, we are talking about what people did in the churchyard with colored eggs. Trying to “treat” their deceased relatives with a festive meal, people placed several eggs on the grave, buried them in the ground right on the grave, or broke the shell directly on the cross. Often a glass of vodka was placed on the tombstone, and in some regions of the country vodka was even poured onto the ground at the grave. Wide feasts were held near the resting place of relatives. In the modern world, clergy consider all such actions unacceptable, since these are signs of a Slavic funeral funeral feast, and not Orthodox traditions.

Colored eggs and Easter cakes are brought to the cemetery not to leave them on the graves, but to treat them to people begging at the gates of the churchyard.