Easter in Naples - A Paschal Collage

Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church
Saturday, 10:00 PM ~ Sunday, 3:30 AM

Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face.

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let them hate Him flee before His face.


Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

As smoke vanisheth, so let them vasish; as wax melteth before the fire.
Christ has risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

So let sinners perish at the presence of God; and let the righteous be glad.

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

This is the day that the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein.

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowning life.

Glory to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit.


Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing  life.

Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Christ is risen fromthe dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

On Saturday night at the beginning of the Paschal Divine Liturgy,each member holds a candle lit from a larger candle symbolizing the eternal flame of Christ. Candles are lit one by one from the priest's candle and hymns are sung.

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Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs. . .


. . . bestowing life.











Let us attend.  The Gospel is read . . .

Shout with joy to God, all the earth.







Cristo 'e risorto! (Christ is Risen)

'e veramente risorto! (Indeed He is Risen!)

With Christianity, the old belief receives new contents, and the egg receives a religious significance amongst the Christians. There exisits a tradition which makes Mary Magdalene to be the originator of the custom of using red eggs on Easter day. After the Ascension of our Saviour, Mary Magdalene went to Rome to preach the Gospel and, appearing before the Emporer Tiberius, she offered him a red egg, saying: CHRIST IS RISEN.” Thus was begun her preaching. Learning about this offering of Mary Magdalene, the early Christians imitated her, presenting each other with eggs. Hence, eggs began to be used by Christians in the earliest centuries as a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ and of the regeneration of Christians for a new and a better life along [with] it. The custom of presenting each other with red eggs was familiar to the Christians of the earliest Universal Church.


The red color, which generally is used for Easter eggs, serves to remind us of the precious blood of God the Redeemer, which was shed on the cross for the salvation of all men.



The blessing of the eggs takes place after the morning Easter service. The breaking of the lenten fasting on Easter Sunday begins with eating the blessed eggs.    (source: "Orthodixie" Copyright 2004 - 2011, Joseph David Huneycutt)

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Christ's resurrection Icon is reverenced and the 40-day fast is broken. ...

I hope I've captured some of this experience and that you've enjoyed the pictures from our Paschal Divine Liturgy here in Naples, Italy. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, and we embraced every moment of it!


Christ is Risen!!