Russian Orthodox Easter Vigil & Liturgy

We attended the Russian Orthodox Easter Vigil and Liturgy last night. The service began at 11 pm with a procession around the church following the cross of the crucified Christ.

At midnight the priest cried out, "Christ is Risen, to which the congregation enthusiastically responded with, “Risen Indeed.”

There were perhaps 150 people of all ages, including infants and small children. These Russian services are a combination of real devotion and a very casual atmosphere, where people talk, walk around, and come and go. Men greet other men with hugs and kisses. Women do the same. And the women look after the infants and little ones.

There are no pews or benches in Orthodox churches and monasteries. Although there are a few benches for the elderly and infirmed, everyone, including children, stand for the entire three and a half hour service. All services here in Russia are long.

Unlike in the Roman Catholic tradition where the priests read and recite the liturgy, in the Orthodox tradition, the priests chant everything, including the readings and the gospel. Interspersed with the chanting of the priest, choirs sing verses in response. This goes on throughout the entire service.

In all my years in the Catholic tradition, including my years in Rome, in Europe, and the US I have never seen such devotion and adherence to tradition. I don’t think too many people know much about dogmas and doctrines, or even the Scriptures, but their deep faith is tangible. It is really quite moving. And, standing in tight and close proximity reinforces the feeling of community.

At the end of the liturgy, everyone goes out into the courtyard with their Easter baskets that are filled with the traditional Easter Cakes called Kulich, and colored eggs to be blessed by the priest. This is a very happy, joyful and fun tradition.

This congregation has been together for some 30 years. The church was re-founded on July 17, 2018. Through the efforts of the Livadia-Dom community, it is being recreated as a memorial church for the 100th anniversary of the tragic death of Nicholas the second, the last Russian tsar, and the Royal Family.

The congregation had been attending services in the tiny chapel connected to Livadia Palace. This new location is on a hilltop overlooking the city of Yalta and the Black Sea.