Orthodox Christians and the Serbian Orthodox Church today celebrate EASTER MONDAY, the first day after Christ’s resurrection from the grave and the second day of Easter.
The day is also widely known as “White Week” (“Bela nedelja”), as it falls under the so-called “trapave sedmice” — weeks during which neither Wednesday nor Friday is observed as a fast. This week is also referred to as Thomas Week, named after the Apostle Thomas.
Easter is celebrated over three days, and in the calendar of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday are marked with red letters, indicating their religious significance. On all three days, believers greet one another with the traditional Easter salutation: “CHRIST IS RISEN” – “INDEED HE IS RISEN”, continuing to spread the joyous news of Christ’s resurrection, first proclaimed to the myrrh-bearing women by the Archangel Gabriel at Christ’s tomb.
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
On Easter Monday, feasts and celebrations continue, along with the joy of Christian life. It is considered a sacred duty for true and sincere believers to rejoice and share that joy with their loved ones. According to folk belief, those who ignore this simple “rule” defy God and Christ, and as a result, their lives will not go well. This is a time when extended families gather, even from distant regions.
In many places, processions (litije) are held, including at Hilandar Monastery. There, early in the morning after the church service, monks exit the monastery gates carrying sacred items, led by the icon of the Theotokos “Trojeručica” (Three-handed Mother of God).
Walking slowly in procession, they chant hymns to the Theotokos, visiting important spiritual landmarks: the Cross of Emperor Dušan, a memorial to the Virgin Mary built where the mule carrying the icon from Jerusalem died, the ossuary housing the bones of departed monks, and then return to the monastery to reenter the church.
As for older folk customs, in certain regions of Vojvodina, young bachelors take to the streets in horse-drawn carriages during the morning hours to visit unmarried girls in the village. Often, they bring tambura musicians, or play instruments themselves. One essential item is a container filled with water.
Upon arriving at a girl’s home, they splash her with water, which, according to tradition, washes away sins and symbolically prepares her for marriage.
The more water used, the greater the chance the young man has chosen that girl to be his future wife. Because of this tradition, Easter Monday is also known as “Water Monday.”
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Source: Novosti, Photo: Pixabay