The Catholic and Orthodox Easter's fall on the same date every seven years. This year, they fall on different dates and are one week apart. Here's what its like to be Greek Orthodox during the Easter season.
While everyone has their "own take" on Easter, I take lent and Holy Week to be very serious. For me, lent is the time to sacrifice the things you love and reflect upon yourself. For those baptized Greek Orthodox, it is a time where you give up meat (among other things) for 40 days.
A common misconception of the Greek Orthodox faith is that they follow the same traditions that Catholics do, to give up one thing and then no meat on Fridays. Those who are Orthodox, follow a much stricter protocol.
Traditionally, the Great Fast is much more than just the avoidance of meat for 40 days. Additionally to the 40 days of no meat, there are specific days where there is an avoidance of meat, meat products, dairy, fish, oil, wine, and eggs.
In the eye of the church and in accordance with your faith, everyone should be following the rules of Lent. The only exceptions to this rule are for young children, women who are pregnant, and those who need special nutrients for health reasons.
Realistically though, it is very difficult to keep a strict fast, especially when you go away to college like me and your dietary options are limited.
That is not an excuse though to start away from your faith. Since I go to school full time and away from home I do not have the resources to be able to participate in fasting in its entirety, therefore I make slight modifications.
For the full 40 days I abstain from meat and then the last week (Holy Week) I do the full fast of avoidance of meat, meat products, dairy, fish, oil, wine, and eggs since I am home and have the time and the resources to strictly abide by the Orthodox Church's traditions.
During Holy Week, church mass is held 2-3 times a day and you are expected to be in church for however many masses there are. Each day there is a specific mass. For example, Wednesday carries the blessing of the oil, Thursday carries the 12 gospels, Good Friday has to do with decorating the Epitafio and carrying it outside and Holy Saturday is the resurrection of Christ at midnight.
For students, taking off a week of school is unrealistic and almost impossible to do without being lost when you come back.
Again making slight modifications, I go to school until Wednesday afternoon of Holy Week, then travel home Wednesday night through Easter Sunday so I can take part in the different days of Holy Week and return back to school Monday morning.
Holy Week is the most important time of year for the Church and should be taken very seriously.
Personally, Easter is my favorite time of year in the Church. The alters are adorned in different drapes that are only taken out during Pascha and the types of traditions that are performed and held by the church are some of the most beautiful you will ever see.
The old Byzantine style of music begins to carry a new tone and (for me at least) speak to you in ways that can only happen during Lent.
For me, being Greek Orthodox means following my faith even when things become difficult and test your limits, it means trusting in God and His plan.
My way of saying thank you to God for all that he has blessed my family and I wish is to participate to the best of my ability in the Church's traditions, especially (but not limited to) the weeks preceding Easter.
