Saints and Feasts

Our Orthodox faith includes saints and services, feasts and fasts, Scriptures and sacraments, the things we believe and the things we do. To find a particular topic quickly, check the index.

When Jesus was the guest of Zacchaeus the Publican

February 17, 2019

In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of the publican and the pharisee. And one of the publicans we know from the Bible is Zacchaeus. Little children often learn to sing a song about Zacchaeus. You might remember it. It starts like this: Zacchaeus was a wee...

Anastasis icon of the Resurrection

January 23, 2019

Explanation and icon by iconographer Randi Maria Sider-Rose The icon called Anastasis (ah-NAH-sta-sis), or The Resurrection, is a symbolic depiction of Christ’s descent into Hades in order to redeem humanity. He is grasping the hands of Adam and (usually) Eve, who...

Paska and kulich

January 22, 2019

Paska, or pascha, is a sweet spread made with cheese and eggs. You eat it with kulich, which is a sweet, rich Easter bread. Depending on where you’re from, kulich might also be called paska, and paska (the cheese kind) might go by other names as well. Whatever...

How did Easter get its name?

January 21, 2019

Why is Easter called Easter? For all Christians, the heart of the faith is the Resurrection of Christ. At first, the celebration of the Resurrection was called Pesach, the Hebrew word for Passover, because the Passover feast was being celebrated when Jesus was raised...

Calculating the date of Pascha

January 18, 2019

Pascha is celebrated on a different date every year. And most years, Easter and Pascha are celebrated on different days, even though they both celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ. Often, people want to know why Pascha is when it is, and why Pascha and...

Make red eggs for Pascha using onion-skin dye

January 17, 2019

Orthodox Christians make beautiful deep red eggs for Pascha. It’s an ancient tradition, perhaps going back to the time of the apostles. The eggs, along with meat and cheese and wine, are brought to church in baskets. The baskets are blessed at the end of the Paschal...