Skopje, 16 April 2023 (MIA) – Orthodox believers are celebrating Sunday the greatest Christian holiday – the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ – Easter, the day when Jesus Christ had proved his divine power and rose from the dead.

At midnight, the Christ’s resurrection was heralded in all churches of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric (MOC-OA).

The ceremony began by sharing the Holy Light, which for the first time was received by a Macedonian state and church delegation at the Service of the Holy Light held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Israel. The delegation carried it back to North Macedonia in a lantern.

Today, churches are holding Easter Sunday masses.

Easter is the culmination of events during Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday reflects the return of Jesus to Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Christ and Good Friday honours the crucifixion of Jesus. Finally, Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection after his death.

The red colour of the Orthodox Easter egg signifies the blood of Christ, its shell His three-day entombment, and its breaking His Resurrection by which the ‘egg of life’ brought forth a life, up to then unknown.

According to Orthodox Christian tradition, the faithful play egg tapping saying the greeting “Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!”.