Calculating the date for Easter in the Western Christian and Eastern Orthodox churches has an interesting history. 2010 finds Passover and Easter for all Christians coinciding. Passover began at sundown on Monday, March 29th and continues through tomorrow. Orthodox Christians and Western Christians celebrate Easter today, April 4th. Orthodoxy is said to be the first Christian religion and it has remained unchanged for 2,000 years. Today Orthodox Christians worldwide will have their food baskets blessed, they will cross themselves and verbalize that "Christ is risen."
This is a photo of the iconostasis at Holy Cross Orthodox Church at 645 Greensboro Road in HIgh Point. The bilingual Russian/English title today is misleading as Holy Cross conducts services in English and invites Orthodox Christians of all ethnicities to attend. Holy Cross began with a meeting on September 14, 2005, services began shortly thereafter. The physical Church became a reality in its current location, a building behind a Presbyterian Church in High Point, on December 24, 2006.
It's very beautiful.
Yes, so many holidays, all together.
I'm glad your town has an Orthodox church (although I have trouble imagining the service in English).
Wishing you a joy-filled Easter.
Posted by: Dina | Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 04:36 AM
Orthodox churches are usually much more ornate than other Christian sects. And the Orthodox are not well-known nor are they well understood by other Christians in this country. Perhaps this post will increase that knowledge and understanding.
Best wishes for a great week.
Posted by: Jacob | Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 08:33 AM
Very pretty. Wishing you a joyous Easter, in any language.
Posted by: barbara farr | Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 10:51 AM
I grew up in a very austere, plain church and these Orthodox Churches just take my breath away.
Posted by: VioletSky | Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 12:03 PM
Blessed Easter to you, too!
Posted by: Chuck | Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Happy Easter to you and yours! Very interesting information and what a gorgeous photos of that Orthodox church!
Posted by: leif hagen | Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 03:02 PM
Jan, I visited your blog and was so pleased to see the recognisible details and Russian lettering. I was not able to put a comment, as am too busy with my job and can only quickly look through my favourite blogs. But soon I'll be back! :-)))
Maybe the Orthodox will become a new movement in Greensboro. I think it is good that people believe, in general. Most of our problems in Russia happened because we were forced away to atheism, I think.
PS. Your blog photos give me a very high level of quality to follow and to learn.
Posted by: Irina | Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 06:09 PM
Happy Easter to you and yours ... lovely post ;-)
Hugs and blessings,
Posted by: Sacred Ruminations | Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 08:55 PM
Happy Easter.
Posted by: Clueless in Boston | Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 10:25 PM
Mme la Vache et «Louis» wish you a blessed Easter.
«Louis» posted a followup today to his Great Vigil of Easter post.
Posted by: Louis la Vache | Monday, April 05, 2010 at 12:26 AM
It's very beautiful,the color is awesome,hanks for sharing & thanks also my viewing my blog.
Have a nice day.
Posted by: Awang | Monday, April 05, 2010 at 02:27 AM
Magnificent! I've only seen separate panels of icons, but never a whole iconostasis like this.
I hope you and your family had a blessed and beautiful Easter Sunday, Jan!
Posted by: Hilda | Monday, April 05, 2010 at 06:25 AM
Christ is Risen! What a lovely photo of a lovely place. As someone who showed up as a stranger at this church about 6 months ago, I can tell you that the people there are just as beautiful as their physical building. I am so glad you made it there to take a photo!
Posted by: Nikki | Friday, April 23, 2010 at 12:51 PM