Easter Holiday in 2026: date, history and spiritual significance
Easter, or the Bright Resurrection of Christ, is one of the most important Christian holidays, which is celebrated annually in spring. It symbolizes the victory of Jesus Christ over death, which opened the way for people to salvation and eternal life. In 2026, the celebration will take place on April 12. About the history of the celebration and its spiritual significance — in the material of Izvestia.
When is Easter celebrated in 2026
In 2026, Easter falls on April 12th. Its date changes annually and depends on the lunar-solar calendar. The celebration does not belong to the twelve twelve-day feasts and occupies a special place in Christianity, being considered the main event of the church year.
Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first spring full moon, which comes after the vernal equinox on March 21. This calculation system was adopted at the First Ecumenical Council in 325. Since then, celebrations for all Orthodox churches have been held on a single day.
According to tradition, the celebration is preceded by Great Lent, which is the strictest and longest for Christians, it will last from February 23 to April 11 inclusive.
The history of Easter
The name "Easter" comes from the ancient Jewish holiday of Passover, which was established in memory of the exodus (liberation from slavery) of the Jewish people and their exit from Egypt under the leadership of the prophet Moses. According to the Old Testament, Jews lived in Egypt for a long time, until there were more Egyptians. The Pharaoh, concerned about the possible loss of power, ordered the enslavement of all Jews and the extermination of newborn children from Jewish families. However, the future prophet Moses survived and returned many years later to save his people.
When he asked Pharaoh to release the Jews, he refused. In response, God inflicted ten terrible punishments — "plagues" on Egypt, including the turning of rivers into blood, the invasion of toads, insect attacks and ulcers on people's bodies.
According to legend, the last "execution", which included the death of all the Egyptian firstborn, did not affect the Jews, as the day before they sacrificed an immaculate lamb — a one—year-old lamb - and anointed the doorways with his blood. Seeing this sign, the punitive angel "passed" the houses of the Jews. After that, Pharaoh released the Jews and the great Exodus from Egypt began.
In the Christian tradition, this event is considered a symbolic harbinger of the sacrifice of Christ. The New Testament says that on the eve of Passover, Jesus was crucified on Golgotha and then buried in a crypt. Three days later, his disciples went there to perform a ritual anointing of the body with incense, but the tomb was empty. According to the Gospels, the Son of God rose on the third day after the crucifixion, on Sunday, and appeared to his followers.
Later, Jesus appeared to the ten apostles in Jerusalem. Despite the closed doors, he entered the house unhindered and said, "Peace be upon you!" The apostles were shocked.
In order to dispel doubts and prove that he was alive, Jesus showed the nail marks on his hands and feet, saying: "Look at my hands and feet, then I am Myself; touch me and see; for the spirit has no flesh and bones, as you see with Me." After that, all suspicions were dispelled.
Although Jewish and Christian Easter have certain differences, there is a connection between them. Orthodox Christians believe that the blood of the lamb saved Jews from death, and the sacrifice of Jesus gave Christians eternal life. Therefore, during the holiday they remember the Son of God, who conquered death.
The establishment of Easter as a church holiday
Easter has been celebrated since the first centuries of the Christian Church. In the 1st century AD, Christians celebrated it on the day of the Jewish Passover. However, already in the second century, the question of the annual celebration of Easter arose. There were disputes between various local churches about when to celebrate the celebration. The churches of Asia Minor adhered to the tradition of celebrating Easter on the same day as the Jews, on the 14th of the month of Nisan, regardless of which day of the week it fell on.
On this day, they remembered the sufferings and crucifixion of Christ and called the celebration Easter of the Cross. A day later, Easter Sunday came for them, regardless of the day of the week. Most local churches followed different rules: they celebrated the memory of the suffering and death of the Son of God on the first Friday after Nisan 14, and Easter itself, that is, the annual commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ, on Sunday.
Later, in the fourth century, the Roman Church established the second tradition. It was decided to celebrate the celebration on the first Sunday after Nisan 14th, that is, after the first spring full moon (no earlier than April 4 and no later than May 8 according to the new style). In order for all churches to know the exact date of the feast, the Bishop of Alexandria had to send Easter messages with calculations of the date of the feast.
The spiritual significance of Easter
For Orthodox Christians, Easter has become a symbol of the victory of life over death and a reminder of the sacrifice and miraculous resurrection of Jesus. It is believed that those who believe in God gain hope for eternal life, and the Easter egg symbolizes a new life. After a long Lent, believers gather for festive divine services and greet the holiday with the words: "Christ is risen!" — "Truly he is risen!". In addition, Easter is often called the day of gratitude to the Lord.
The celebration also symbolizes the renewal of nature. At this time, spring begins, life awakens, plants bloom, and after a long winter, warmth and light return. Everything around us reminds of a new beginning and rebirth of life.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
