Festivals Flashcards
(21 cards)
what is the eastern orthodox focus during christmas?
- the eastern churches celebrate the feast of the nativity of our lord
-emphasise that christs incarnation made his crucifixion and resurrection possible
what is the western focus during christmas?
-remembering God made flesh as a human child
-anticipating his second coming(parousia)
what is advent like in the eastern orhtodox church?
-nativity fast of 40 days ending on january 6
-no eating animal products, oil or wine
-day before nativity, paramony is observed and no food is eaten until the first star appears in the night sky
-2 sundays before nativity is the sunday of the forefathers celebrating the human ancestors of christ
-the sunday before nativity is the sunday of the holy fathers which commemorates all righteous men and women who pleased God from scripture
what is advent like in western churches?
- period of preparation for the coming of christ
- advent wreath with four candels for each sunday n advent symbolises hope, joy, prophets and the annunciation
- a fifth christ candle is lit in the centre on christmas eve
- advent readings and hymns emphasise waiting, preparation, light in the darkness and the coming of the promised messiah, and look ahead to his final advent as a judge at the end time
which type of church is more commercialised?
western
what are the eastern liturgical vestments?
red and gold
what are the western liturgical vestments?
purple and blue
what are eastern orthodox christmas services like?
on the eve of nativity all night services are held
- the hours- an aggregate of five services in one
- vespers- chanting and readings celebrate christs incarnation
- liturgy of st basil the great
-vigil - psalms and chanting
-matins - a proclamation that christ is born
what are western services like during the christmas period?
-christingle service
- nativity plays
-carol services
what are similarities about eastern and western easter celebrations?
- easter is most important
-easter is about the resurrection of jesus christ
-christs defeat of death and rising to new life heralds his salvation for all of us from the slavery of sin, and the promise of a new life, both now and after our bodily death
what are western churches like on christmas day?
- midnight mass- eucharist performed at midnight by candlelight
- dawn service
- christmas day service
what is the date of easter in eastern churches
-first sunday according to julian calendar
-after first full moon
-after vernal equinox as observed from jerusalem
always calculated to occur after passover
what is the date of easter in western churches?
- first sunday according to gregorian calendar
- after the first ecclesiastical full moon
-after vernal equinox (21st march) - can occur before passover
fasting at easter for eastern orthodox church
-great fast or great lent runs before pascha
- includes fasting from meat eggs and dairy products
- lasts 40 days to prepare to meet the risen jesus
fasting at easter for western church
- preceded by lent
-lasts 40 days commemorating Jesus fast in the desert after his baptism
-involves fasting from certain foods or giving up luxury as penitence
-begins on ash wednesady
what is liturgical practice like at easter for eastern orthodox church?
- week 1- great lent begins on clean monday, no food consumed this week other than ash wednesday and friday
- week 2- commemorates St Gregory Palamas
- weeks 3 + 4 - all night vigil called veneration of the cross happens and cross is carried to centre of church for adoration
- week 5 - theotokos dedicated to Virgin Mary
- week 6 - lent ends with vespers on friday, lazarus saturday celebrates resurrection of lazarus
what is liturgical practice like at easter in the western churches?
- purple vestments
- ornaments in church are removed or covered
- 4th sunday is mothering sunday
- 5th sunday is passion sunday marking start of passiontide ( last two weeks in lent)
what is holy week like in the eastern church?
palm sunday- vespers on sat night, blessing palms at matins on sunday morning
holy monday- cursed fig tree
holy tuesday- 10 virgins
holy wednesday- jesuss anointment at bethany
holy thursday - last supper
holy friday-jesus’ passion, strict fast day and all day services
holy saturday- jesus’ burial and descent into hell
what is holy week like in the western church?
palm sunday- marks jesus’ triumphal entry , includes processions
maundy thursday- commemorates last supper
good friday- remembers jesus’ crucifixion, death and burial
what happens on easter sunday in the eastern orthodox church?
paschal vigil- begins with midnight office from saturday night into sunday morning
easter week/ bright week has no fasting
what happens on easter sunday in western churches?
easter vigil - begins saturday night into sunday morning , may include baptism/ confirmation
easter sunday decorations are unveiled
