EASTER: From Golgotha to a Global Tradition

Easter is more than a religious holiday. It is an event that began in a remote province of the Roman Empire and became the spiritual center for billions of people around the world. Its roots lie in a specific time and place: Jerusalem, 1st century AD. A man and the Son of God — Jesus of Nazareth — was condemned, crucified, and, according to the testimony of His disciples and more than 500 eyewitnesses, rose from the dead. It was this proclamation — of the empty tomb and the appearances of the risen Christ — that gave rise to a new faith. Over the centuries, Easter as a celebration of the Resurrection took shape in catacombs under persecution, in councils of theological debate, in the sound of church bells and the glow of candles. This article traces how Easter made its way from the tragedy of Golgotha to the great celebration that now unites Christians around the world every year.

The Crucifixion: A Death That Became a Beginning

In the early 30s AD, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified in Jerusalem under the authority of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. In itself, the event was not unusual — the Romans crucified rebels and religious agitators regularly. But this particular execution changed history. According to the Gospels, Jesus was handed over by the religious elite of Judea for violating the sacred law, and the Roman state approved the sentence to maintain public order.

Jesus’ body was buried according to Jewish custom — in a new tomb carved into the rock, near the site of the crucifixion at Golgotha. The tomb was provided by Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Sanhedrin who, according to the Gospels, “was waiting for the Kingdom of God” and secretly supported Jesus (Matthew 27:57–60; Mark 15:42–46; Luke 23:50–53). The burial took place in haste, as the Sabbath was about to begin at sunset. Joseph, along with Nicodemus, wrapped the body in linen with spices, as was the Jewish custom. A large stone was rolled against the entrance, and by the order of the chief priests, Roman guards were posted and the tomb was sealed (Matthew 27:62–66).

On the third day, early Sunday morning, women came to the tomb with spices and found the stone rolled away. The body was gone; only the burial cloths remained (John 20:1–7; Luke 24:1–12). An angel said to them, “He is not here — He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6). Some of the women met Jesus on the road and fell at His feet (Matthew 28:9).

After this, the risen Christ appeared repeatedly to His disciples: He spoke with them, showed them His wounds, even ate with them (Luke 24:36–43; John 20:19–29). Paul wrote that Jesus also appeared to “more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once” (1 Corinthians 15:6).

These testimonies became the basis of an tradition that spread rapidly — first in Jerusalem, then through Asia Minor, Greece, Egypt, and finally to Rome. This is how the Church arose — not as a philosophical system or ethical code, but as a movement built on a single powerful truth: Christ is risen. This message became the foundation of life — and the cause of death — for thousands of early Christians who faced martyrdom without renouncing the truth they had experienced.

The Resurrection: Faith at the Core of Christianity

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just another miracle. It is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without it, the Gospel becomes a tragedy without redemption, a doctrine without power or hope. That’s why Paul wrote so boldly: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14,17). In other words, if the resurrection is false, then Christianity is void.

For the early Christians, Easter was not a cultural holiday — it was the very heart of spiritual life. It was a night of remembrance, vigil, fasting, and prayer.

Believers gathered to read Scripture, recall Jesus’ suffering and death, and in the early morning, celebrate His Resurrection. There were no costumes, no decorations, no social customs — only faith, prayer, and the overwhelming realization: He is alive.

The Resurrection was not treated as metaphor or myth. For the apostles and the first generations of believers, it was a historical fact. Their witness was so firm that even under torture and threat of death, they did not recant. The Resurrection gave them courage to face death, believing that Christ had conquered it — and that they would too.

The Resurrection changed everything: the meaning of life, the value of the body, the fear of death, the vision of eternity. It became the foundation of Christian teaching on salvation and the lens through which God was seen — not as a distant judge, but as the Living Victor who entered death to bring life. This was the beginning of the Church — not as an institution, but as a community of people who believe Christ is risen and lives today.

Jesus: True God and True Man

Christian faith is based on the belief that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human. He possessed two natures — divine and human — united in one person, without confusion or separation. This truth was formally affirmed at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 and became a cornerstone of Christian theology.

Christ died on the cross as a man — with a body, pain, and fear. But He rose as God, conquering death and offering eternal life. This makes Easter not just a remembrance, but a moment of cosmic significance: the Creator entered history to save His creation.

From Catacombs to Cathedrals: The Formation of Tradition

For the first three centuries after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, Christians lived under constant threat of persecution. Their Easter celebrations were not held in churches but in catacombs, in private homes, and in silence. The joy of the Resurrection lived in their hearts, but outwardly, the feast was hidden from the world.

A turning point came in the early 4th century when Emperor Constantine the Great came to power. He granted legal status to Christianity and eventually made it the favored religion of the empire. With the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, Constantine and his co-ruler Licinius declared freedom of worship, marking a new era for the Church.

Churches began to be built openly, liturgies became public events, and Easter became the most anticipated day of the year.

A key figure in this transformation was Helena, Constantine’s mother. A devout Christian, she made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 326 AD. According to tradition, she discovered the site of Golgotha, the Tomb of Christ, and the True Cross. Under her direction, construction began on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem — the same church where, to this day, Easter is celebrated and the Holy Fire is believed to descend each year.

In parallel, Constantine convened the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325 AD. Among theological issues, the council addressed the growing dispute about when to celebrate Easter. Churches in different regions used different calendars, and sometimes Easter coincided with the Jewish Passover. The council ruled that Easter must be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox, but never on the same day as Passover. This decision became the foundation for the unified Christian calendar.

From the 4th century onward, the liturgical tradition of Easter began to take form. Church practice incorporated:

Great Lent — 40 days of preparation through fasting, repentance, and spiritual focus

Holy Week — the remembrance of Christ’s final days on earth: from His entry into Jerusalem to His crucifixion

Midnight processions — symbolizing the movement from death to resurrection

Paschal midnight liturgy — the high point of the Church year, marking the arrival of light and life

What began as a quiet vigil in the shadows of persecution became a celebration that shaped the spiritual and cultural identity of Christian civilization. Easter emerged from the underground — and echoed from the domes of cathedrals, from Jerusalem to Rome, from Constantinople to Kyiv.

The Descent of the Holy Fire: How It Happens

Every year on Holy Saturday, the day before Orthodox Easter, one of the most mysterious and sacred events in the Christian world takes place: the descent of the Holy Fire. It occurs in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, at the very site where, according to tradition, Christ was buried and resurrected.

The Location — The Edicule

At the center of the event is the Edicule, a small chapel built directly over the Tomb of Christ. It consists of two chambers: the outer room and the inner burial chamber. It is here that the ceremony takes place, and where the Holy Fire is said to descend.

Preparation and Ceremony

The ritual is carried out with solemnity and strict protocol:

Hours before the event, the church is filled with tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world.

Clergy from various denominations — including Armenian, Coptic, and others — participate alongside Orthodox hierarchs.

The Edicule is thoroughly inspected by Israeli authorities and representatives of other Churches to ensure no artificial sources of fire are present.

After the inspection, all lamps are extinguished, and the entrance is sealed with wax and official seals.

The Entry of the Patriarch

The Patriarch of Jerusalem (or another senior Orthodox bishop) enters the Edicule dressed in a simple white robe — a symbol of humility. He carries two bundles of unlit candles. He enters alone. Occasionally, a representative of the Armenian Church may accompany him.

Prayer and the Miracle

Inside, the Patriarch kneels and prays intensely at the site believed to be Christ’s burial place. According to tradition, in response to his prayer, the Holy Fire descends miraculously, igniting one or more of the lamps or candles inside. No one can see the exact moment it happens — it is hidden from view.

The Fire Emerges

Moments later, the Patriarch exits the Edicule with burning candles in his hands. The church erupts in celebration. Pilgrims shout “The Light of Christ! Christ is Risen!” Candles are lit, and the fire is passed from person to person. According to many witnesses, the flame does not burn for the first few minutes — people pass their hands through it, touch it to their faces and hair.

The Fire Travels

The Holy Fire is then transported by special flights to Orthodox countries: Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Georgia, and more. At airports it is welcomed with ceremony. In churches, it is used to light the Paschal candle, marking the arrival of the Resurrection light.

What the Holy Fire Means

For believers, the Holy Fire is a miraculous sign of Christ’s Resurrection, a yearly confirmation of divine presence and mercy. It is not just a symbol, but a mystery — an event that rekindles the flame of faith and connects modern Christians with the earliest followers of Christ.

For skeptics, it remains a subject of debate and speculation. But regardless of belief, the descent of the Holy Fire continues to draw thousands to Jerusalem each year, all waiting in reverence for light to rise from the depths of the tomb.

Paschal Symbolism: From the Sacrificial Lamb to the Red Egg

The symbols of Easter developed gradually over the centuries, each carrying deep theological and cultural meaning.

The sacrificial lamb points back to the Old Testament — to the lamb whose blood marked the doors of the Israelites in Egypt, sparing them from death. In Christian understanding, Christ is the Lamb, sacrificed for the salvation of the world. The egg became a symbol of life and rebirth — a closed shell from which new life emerges, much like Christ emerging from the sealed tomb. The red color represents both blood and victory.

Eastern Christian tradition adds kulich (a tall, sweet bread), paska (a pyramid-shaped cheese dessert), candles, and hymns to the celebration.

These customs are not mere decorations — they blend theology, folk tradition, and liturgical symbolism into a rich, living language. In every generation, Easter “speaks” anew, but its message remains unchanged: life triumphs over death.

Modern Celebration: Unity Across Time

Today, Easter is the greatest celebration in the Christian world. In Orthodox countries, it is marked by midnight services, candlelit processions, choir singing, and feasting with family. In Catholic tradition, it includes Paschal Masses, the lighting of the Paschal candle, and solemn yet joyful liturgies. In Protestant communities, it is often observed with sunrise services, Scripture readings, and celebratory sermons.

Even in secular societies, Easter symbols — eggs, light, and spring — still echo the essence of the feast. Easter remains a bridge that connects past and present, earth and heaven, loss and hope.

Finale: A Story That Continues

Easter is not just a historical memory. It is a living tradition that has endured through persecution, councils, empires, wars, and revolutions. It survived paganism, totalitarianism, and modern skepticism — and still stands.

Because Easter is not merely about what was. It’s about what is — and what will be.