Oriented on making people closer

On Sunday, April 16, Orthodox believers all over the world, including Turkmenistan, celebrated one of the most important Christian holidays — the Resurrection of Christ or Easter.

Divine services were held in all Orthodox churches of Turkmenistan. In Mary, the center of the celebrations was the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, where the service was headed by Priest Dmitry Kireev.

— Easter, of course, is the theme of rebirth, the transition from death to life. According to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ was crucified, and in atonement for human sins died on Friday, - priest Dmitry Kireev tells in an interview with ORIENT, - A guard was set at his coffin, but when on Sunday morning the myrrh-bearing wives together with Mary came to the coffin, they found the stone moved away, and the angel who appeared to them announced that the body of Christ is not here. Then Jesus Christ himself appeared to Mary and said that he ascended to his Father. On the same day, the news of the Bright Resurrection of Christ spread among the faithful.

Easter is a transitory holiday: its date changes annually and depends on the solar and lunar calendars. Due to the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars, the dates of Orthodox and Catholic Easter differ.

One of the important elements of the celebration is the Easter Service.

— The church is preparing especially for the Easter service, because I want to make this day unforgettable for many guests, — continues Priest Dmitry Kireev, — Closer to midnight, at least five hundred people from young to old gathered in our church to take part in the procession and the divine liturgy.

The procession around the temple was held during the performance of sacred hymns and the ringing of bells.

Easter matins and the Divine Liturgy, as well as the consecration of artos, a special bread, followed this. During the service, Priest Dmitry Kireev greets all the worshippers again and again with joy with the words "Christ is Risen!" and every time he is answered: "Truly Risen!".

An integral element of the holiday is the red color. On this day, he prevails in the ceremonial robes of the clergy, personifying the blood of Christ shed at the crucifixion.

The symbols of life in the Easter tradition are painted eggs, cakes and Easter (curd mass with sugar, honey and butter). All these dishes are associated with Easter traditions and beliefs.

This year, Easter is celebrated five days before Eid al-Fitr, which Turkmen citizens will celebrate on April 21. Both of these holidays – Christian and Muslim – complete a long fast for followers of these religions and are celebrated with lavish family feasts with the invitation of relatives and friends. It is also customary to give each other ritual dishes, go to visit.

Among the residents of Turkmenistan representing these two faiths, it has long been customary to congratulate each other and exchange treats: on Sunday, Christians shared cakes and Easter eggs with Muslims (and this continues as a rule at the beginning of the working week), and on Friday, Muslims will treat friends, neighbors and just Christian acquaintances.

Artur PETROSYANTS

Photo: author