When is Easter celebrated in 2026

Easter is the most important celebration of the Orthodox Church calendar, "a feast of feasts and a celebration of celebrations." On this day, the Church commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, an event that underlies the entire Christian faith and symbolizes the victory of life over death, light over darkness, hope over despair. Izvestia tells us when Easter is celebrated, how it is connected with Lent, and what traditions and customs there are.

When is Easter in 2026

In 2026, Easter will be celebrated on April 12. The date of the holiday changes every year. Orthodox Easter is always celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon, which occurs no earlier than the vernal equinox (March 21). This is a transitional holiday that falls on the period from April 17 to May 21 (according to the Gregorian calendar), which is associated with a combination of the lunar and solar calendars.

Great Lent and Holy Week: the way to Easter

Easter is preceded by Great Lent, the longest and strictest of the year. In 2026, it will run from February 23 to April 11.

Lent begins immediately after Forgiveness Sunday, the last day of Maslenitsa, also known as "Send-off." It lasts 48 days and is divided into two parts: Holy Lent (40 days) and Holy Week (the week before Easter). Lent is a time of spiritual concentration, repentance and prayer. For believers, this is not only food restrictions, but above all, self-improvement: rejection of resentment, quarrels, and condemnation.

Forgiven Sunday – 2026: what date, history and traditions of the holiday

The Forgiven Sunday falls on the last day of Maslenitsa

Of particular importance is the last week before Easter — Holy Week. Each of her days is dedicated to remembering the last days of Christ's earthly life. Great Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, Great Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus, and Great Saturday commemorates the Savior's stay in the tomb.

Easter customs and traditions

Easter is rich in traditions. Some have come to us from time immemorial in an almost unchanged form, others are relatively new. Let's look at the most popular ones.

Easter Night: religious procession and festive liturgy

The main services begin late in the evening on Holy Saturday. At midnight, the lights go out in the churches, and after the prayers are read, a joyful "Christ is risen!" is heard. The clergy and parishioners make a procession around the temple, a symbol of the myrrh—bearing women's procession to the Holy sepulchre.

In Russia, Easter services are held in all Orthodox churches, including the country's main cathedral, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The festive Liturgy is traditionally led by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Thousands of believers celebrate Easter in the church to take communion and share the common joy.

"Christ is risen!" is the main Easter greeting

As Easter approaches, believers greet each other with the words: "Christ is risen!" and respond: "He is truly risen!" This custom persists for forty days — until the feast of the Ascension. The greeting is accompanied by a triple kiss, a sign of brotherly love and reconciliation.

Easter cakes and colored eggs

An integral part of the holiday is the consecration of the Easter meal. On Holy Saturday and Easter night, Easter cakes, cottage cheese, and colored eggs are consecrated in churches.

The cake is a tall sweet bread with raisins and glaze, symbolizing artos, consecrated bread. Cottage cheese Easter, as a rule, has the shape of a truncated pyramid and is decorated with the letters "XB". The egg— an ancient symbol of life and renewal, is most often painted red, reminiscent of the sacrifice of Christ and at the same time of the triumph of life.

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Mercy and helping others

Easter is not only a joy, but also a time of good deeds. In the Orthodox tradition, special attention is paid to helping those in need, visiting lonely people, and supporting the sick. Many parishes organize charity events, distribute food, and collect donations.

The celebrations will continue throughout the next week, during Holy Week. Solemn services will continue to be held in churches. This time is also considered favorable for baptism and communion. However, wedding ceremonies are not held on Holy Week. They are allowed from the first Sunday after Easter — Fomin Sunday, more popularly known as Krasnaya Gorka.

Earlier, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia urged believers not to pray for a salary increase.