(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
As the festival of Easter is being celebrated on Sunday,
devotees took part in mass and prayer sessions in churches across
the country, Trend reports citing The Print.
In Kerala's Kochi, eastern mass and prayer sessions were held at
St Mary's Cathedral Basilica by Syro-Malabar Church Major
Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry. Devotees gathered in large
numbers to join sessions, praying to and remembering Jesus Christ,
who rose from the dead on the day now known as Easter to millions
of his devotees across the world. Sounds of hymns and prayers rang
across the centuries-old cathedral.
During his speech to the devotees, Cardinal George Alencherry
highlighted the massive extent of sectarian thoughts, conflicts,
and their escalation to riots and wars in the modern era and the
loss of innocent lives due to it.
“We must cultivate a positive attitude of seeing everyone as
brothers and sisters without hostility,” he added.
In Mumbai, the famous St. Michael's Church also hosted special
Easter prayers. Devotees thronged in large numbers to remember the
holy name of Lord Jesus.
A devotee named Julie told ANI,“It is an important day for us,
we are really happy today. Jesus rose from the dead today. He died
for us on the cross. He brought salvation to the whole world and
gave us all a new life.”
“Today is a great day. God has saved us,” added another devotee
named Amelie.
In Goa, Easter celebrations were held with great vigour and
faith by the devotees at the Immaculate Conception Church in
Panaji. Easter Vigil was held outside the church.
Fr Walter De Sa, Parish Priest, Immaculate Conception Church,
Goa told ANI,“We will start the Easter vigil. The resurrection of
Lord Jesus is the climax of our celebration, the culmination of
Paschal Mystery. After death, our Lord rose. We are going to
celebrate this victory over death and sin. The ceremony will begin
with blessings of fire and light. Lord is the light of the world,
he takes away all the darkness, namely sin and other evils. We will
put out all lights, light a candle and enter the Church. Once we
are inside the church, will turn them all. The significance is that
the Lord is the light of the world.”
“Then after it, the second part of the celebration will start.
We will read the Old Testament and see the history of salvation
unfold till it reaches its climax in the New Testament when in
Jesus we all received a new life and were freed from slavery and
Satan. After this, we will bless the Holy Water. It symbolises new
life. Jesus himself said that he is the 'living water'. Then, we
will have the renewal of baptismal vows, where we will proclaim our
rejection of Satan and our acceptance of faith in God. Later we
will begin the liturgy of Eucharist, the cultivation of celebration
of Eucharistic sacrifice.”
“At the end, we will have a procession with a blessed sacrament
around the church, we will enter the church with it and give solemn
benediction to the people. We will also sprinkle holy water over
people to signify that they are new creatures today, they have a
new self and have become closer to god. Easter Vigil is the mother
of all vigils. On Easter Sunday, masses will be held as usual, we
will praise the Lord,” he added.
In Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai, devotees offer prayers in a
church in Nungambakkam on the occasion of Easter Sunday.
Easter is a holy Christian festival that celebrates Jesus rising
from the dead, three days after he was put on a cross and
executed.
As mentioned in the Bible, Christ was crucified on the day of
Good Friday and buried in a grave after his last supper which is
commemorated as Maundy Thursday. However, on the third day when his
disciples visited his grave, they found that the grave was empty.
The day marks the triumph of Christ over death and this also makes
him the 'Son of God'. The day is celebrated with pomp and grandeur
every year.
Traditions like church visits, baking hot cross buns and
decorating Easter eggs are symbolic of Christ's death on the cross
and resurrection from the tomb.
It always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon
following the spring equinox.
Spring equinox occurs when the Sun is exactly above the equator,
thus making the day and night of equal lengths.
Traditions like baking hot cross buns and filling empty eggs are
symbolic of Christ's death on the cross and resurrection from the
tomb.
On this occasion, people also exchange Easter baskets and
special gifts with their loved ones.
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