Paschal or Easter feast is season of hope, joy and happiness. It is the celebration of God's resurrection. It is the most important festival of Orthodox Christians like Annunciation. Pascha is also a great holiday in Orthodox countries. The celebrations of Easter or Pasca are combined with local traditions and customs. It differs from palaces to place. 

Christ is Risen! He is Indeed Risen!!!

Христос воскрес! Воістину воскрес!

Chrystos voskres! Voistynu voskres!

The Ukrrine has a rich Orthodox history and tradition and as a result, there are certain Paschal practices in the Ukraine that are quite interesting to note. There are three major Orthodox Churches namely Ukraine Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate) and Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC).

"Do not be afraid, Mary," the Angel Gabriel said, as he appeared before the young woman, "for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the House of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (St. Luke 1:30-33)

The holy feast of Annunciation in Orthodox Church  begins on March 25, 2012, (on the 24th for Latin Catholics)  and is celebrated with great reverence and joy by Christians. Annunciation is the pious occasion of the proclamation of the good news to the holy Theotokos (also known as Mary, Mother of God) and thereby to the whole universe, is one of the greatest feasts in the Orthodox Church. It marks the beginning of the entrance of Jesus Christ to the human world. St Mary or Holy Theotokos occupies preeminent position among all others saints in Orthodox Church.  This title was affirmed by the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in A.D 431 and there by establishing it into daily life of the Church. 

Prostration is a vital part of the Great Lent and Holy Week, but full prostration is traditionally discouraged on the Lord's Day (Sunday), during Paschaltide (Easter season) and on Great Feasts of the Lord. Prostration is also made by Orthodox Christians in front of their Bishop/Metropolitan, their spiritual fathers or even one another asking forgiveness, without the sign of cross, since it is not an act of divine worship. Those who are physically unable to make full prostrations are allowed to bows at the waist. Prostration is practiced by Orthodox Christians at their home during the prayers.

Oriental Orthodox has prostrations as part of the great Lenten practices. Syrian and Indian Orthodox Christians prostrate during all daily prayers, except on days which the Holy Liturgy is celebrated. For more on Prostration click here.

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George Alexander writes regularly for Travelujah on Orthodox Christianity. He is the spokesperson of the Orthodox Cognate PAGE and can be reached at info@theorthodoxchurch.com

"As so I desire to fix three precepts in your mind so that you may accomplish them during the fast: (1) to speak ill of no one, (2) to hold no one for an enemy, and (3) to expel from your mouth altogether the evil habit of swearing." - Saint John Chrysostom.

The Easter holiday season has officially begun with the onset of the forty day period of Lent..

The great lent in holy Orthodox Church is called ‘Tesseradocaste' derived from the word forty, depicting the forty days of holy fasting prior to Pascal celebrations.  Some of the oriental orthodox churches observe fifty day