Holy Week in 2025 in Russia: what date, what not to do, and what to eat

Holy Week for Orthodox Christians in 2025 begins on April 13. These are the six days of the strictest fasting in the church year. They precede Easter, the Bright Resurrection of Christ (this year falls on April 20th).

"Passion" comes from the word "suffering" and is so called in memory of the last days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. According to the Holy Scriptures, each of the days of Holy Week is called a great day as a sign of what Christ accomplished for the sake of people.

This week, believers eat only bread, vegetables and fruits, and on Good Friday, April 18, 2025, they do not eat anything as a sign of sorrow.

Eggs are painted on Maundy Thursday (April 17) or Holy Saturday (April 19). Eggs with cakes and Easter eggs are consecrated on Holy Saturday, on the day of the descent of the Holy Fire, or on Sunday night after the Easter service.

Lazareva Saturday — secrets of the April 12 holiday: omens, superstitions, prohibitions

On this day, a miracle happened, thanks to which many believed in the Savior.

During Holy Week, it is customary to go to confession and receive communion.

The solemn Easter service begins in Orthodox churches on the night of April 19-20, 2025.

Earlier, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the State University of Education Irina Lyalina told Izvestia how to choose a high-quality Easter cake.