The Festival of the Resurrection of Our Lord

By the second century, the feast of Easter had developed as an annual commemoration. The festival day was soon preceded by a 40-day time of fasting in preparation for the celebration, followed by a 50-day season of rejoicing concluded by Pentecost.

The date for Easter differs from year to year because it is established by the phases of the moon (as was the Jewish festival of Passover). The Festival of the Resurrection is celebrated annually on the first Sunday after the first full moon (14th of Nisan in the Jewish calendar) after the spring equinox. (For a listing of Calendar Dates for the Church Year, see Christian Worship p. 162.)

The early church saw Easter as something to be celebrated not just every year, but every week. Every Sunday is a “little Easter,” celebrating the resurrection. But the annual celebration of Easter Sunday is the highest point of the church year. On this day, the church celebrates the resurrection of Christ from death and the restoration of life to those dead in trespasses and sins. All who have been buried with Christ through baptism are united with him in his resurrection and walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4,5). Today we celebrate Christ’s victory over death, and the fact that because he lives, we also will live!

Easter Sunday also marks the return of the lighted Paschal Candle. During the season of Lent, we refrained from singing our most joyous songs of praise, including those songs with “Alleluia.” The “Alleluia” returns today. Our Paschal Candle is also lighted and returned to its place of prominence near the font. The Paschal Candle (from the Greek “pascha” meaning “Easter”) symbolizes the resurrection victory over the darkness of sin and death. It further emphasizes the presence of the resurrected Christ and the link between baptism and the resurrection (Romans 6:3-5). Therefore the candle is used through the year at baptisms and funerals to mark the connection between the new birth, Christian death and the glorious resurrection. The Paschal Candle traditionally stands near the altar as a symbol of the resurrection and remains lit during the Sundays of Easter, and it returns in procession at the beginning of the service along with the Processional Cross.