Easter holidays in Romania

Orthodox and Greek Catholic Christians are preparing to celebrate Easter.

Leyla Cheamil, 10.04.2023, 14:06

Romanias majority Orthodox Christians and its Greek Catholic community celebrated Palm Sunday, which symbolises Christs triumphal entry into Jerusalem before being crucified. People went to church, taking willow tree rods to be blessed and then place them at windows, doors and gates, believing this will keep evil spirits at bay and protect them from misfortune. On the eve of Palm Sunday, the faithful attended a number of processions held around the country and in the capital Bucharest.

Speaking about the significance of the pilgrimage, the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel, said it is a prelude to the holy Easter and the confession of Christ, the conqueror over death. “The Palm Sunday pilgrimage is blessed for the city and a symbol of the friendship between the people and Christ, because Christ the Lord raised his friend Lazarus from the dead, who had died four days prior”, the Patriarch also said. The procession, he explained, shows that the flowers of faith and the light of the virtues accumulated through frequent fasting, prayer, repentance, confession and communion during Lent, these lights of spiritual flowers symbolised by the leaves of date palm and willow tree are offered to Christ as a sign of peoples love in response to his love for them.

Palm Sunday initiates the final week of Lent known as Passion Week, in which the faithful prepare to welcome the great holiday of the resurrection of Christ. Special evening services will be held every day in churches and organised groups from Romania already reached the holy sites in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem for the Easter service.

This year, Catholic and Protestant Christians celebrated Easter one week earlier than Eastern Christians. Romanias president Klaus Iohannis wished all those who celebrated Easter good health and prosperity and also sent his good wishes to those who celebrated Palm Sunday. Prime minister Nicolae Ciucă said the happy coincidence of the celebration of Easter and Palm Sunday makes the power of the Christian world more relevant, united by love, humility and hope.

Tens of thousands of Catholic Christians coming from all over the world, including from Romania, attended the Easter service held by Pope Francis in Romes St Peters Square on Sunday. The pontiff condemned the obstacles to world peace in this traditional Urbi at Orbi message and expressed deep concern over the recent attacks in the Middle East, which he said are a threat to the dialogue between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Like in his address last year, the pope also insisted on the war in Ukraine and called on the international community to end this conflict. (CM)