Light, hope, life beyond pain and suffering – that is how Bulgarians see Easter, the Christian holiday celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the day when we become more kind-hearted, more generous and open our hearts to the universal love inspired by the transformation of nature itself.

Preparations for this joyous event start at the beginning of Holy Week when church services relate Jesus Christ’s last days on Earth, from his entry into Jerusalem to his crucifixion. The road leading to the joyous event of his resurrection passes through the suffering of the Saviour and all church services point us to the deep meaning of spiritual values. The priests’ vestments are in deep mauve – the colour of penance. And as there can be no joy without pain, so the Resurrection comes moments after the deep suffering that cleanses us of petty passion, to prepare believers for the coming Easter, filling our hearts with hope of eternal life and salvation. One symbol of this hope-come-true is the Holy Fire that each year, on Holy Saturday, illuminates the church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the very first minutes, it does not burn, so believers put their faces to the flames. Every year, the Christian Orthodox world awaits this divine miracle, to take to their homes a fraction of the Lord’s love. For some years now, with the help of sponsors, who provide for its transportation from Jerusalem, the Holy Fire has reached the Bulgarian houses of prayer. Thus, any believer who has attended the church service anywhere in Bulgaria is able to sanctify his home with the holy flame.

The Paschal Divine Liturgy begins late on the night of Holy Saturday to continue into the early hours of Sunday. The houses of prayer, especially in big Bulgarian cities are invariably full of people of all ages. A little after midnight, the priests turn to the congregation with the words: Christ is Risen! Later, people greet each other with Christ is Risen!, with the response being Truly, He is Risen! Believers give each other decorated red eggs – a symbol of the Resurrection. After this exchange of greetings, little by little people begin to scatter and only those who want to receive the Holy Communion remain. At the end of the Paschal morning, the Paschal homily of St John Chrysostom is read aloud, calling on one and all, “those who have fasted and those who have not”, to embrace the love of the Saviour through Communion. On Sunday, by a tradition, families come together for a festive meal with their loved ones:

“We always get together as a family and we are so happy together,” says Vesselin Yolov on his way out of the church. “And it is a really special event.”

“To my mind these Christian holidays are always connected with the family, of knowing they are always there for me, of feeling their love. These are things we tend to forget at other times. At this time of the year I turn my thoughts to these values,” says Maya Stefanova.

To little Yoanna, Easter is an occasion to:

“Pray to God to give us happiness, health, love…”And her friend Victoria adds: “Health, luck, love for my family. But most of all health for Bulgarians and happiness for us all.”