The first week after the Resurrection of our Lord or Pascha is called The
Bright Week. There is no lent throughout the week even on Wednesday and Friday
because the entire week is considered to be one continuous day, instead of
morning and evening payers the Paschal Hours are read and people try to attend
church services more often and partake of the Holy Mysteries. Here are some
other facts and interesting traditions that occur during the Bright Week:
Bright
Week Fact 1
Beginning from the first day of Pascha the faithful Orthodox Christians
greet each other with a joyous salutation of Christ is Risen, followed by a response Indeed(or truly) He has Risen.
Bright
Week Fact 2
During the bright week the church services follow a special festive and
paschal rite. All of the daily services occur with open Royal and Deacon Doors,
which allows the pious Christians to observe the
After each Devine Liturgy, a procession is held around the church, which
symbolizes the myrrh-bearing women who walked to Christ’s tomb. During the procession,
all participants carry lit candles.
Bright
Week Fact 3
In monasteries and in churches with a bell tower, anyone can come up and
ring the bells. According to tradition, with the blessing of the rector,
laypeople can climb up to the bell tower and ring the bells.
On Bright Friday, the church remember the icon of the Mother of God ofthe Life Giving Fountain. On this day, there is a special blessing of the water
after the Divine Liturgy.
Bright
Week Fact 5
Another tradition at the feast of the Pascha, is the
consecration of a bread stamped with the image of the Cross, or of the Resurrection, called Artos. This special Artos is consecrated at the close of
the Paschal Liturgy in memory of the Risen Christ, Who is "the Bread of
Life Eternal descended from Heaven and nourishing us with the food of His
divine mercies." On the next Saturday, after the Liturgy, it is broken and
distributed in the place of Antidoron.
Bright
Week Fact 6
There are also no prostrations during the week and all the way until Pentecost
prostrations are not permitted. Wedding and prayers for the dead are not held
during the Bright Week. If a funeral service is held during The Bright Week, most
of the hymns are taken from the paschal service.
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