Bright Week and the 40 Days of Easter

Ad Orientem ^ | 04-21-2016 | Ad Orientem

[NRx]

The icon for Bright Monday

Bright Week and the forty days of Pascha (Easter) are a period of celebration as we rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In recognition of this we observe certain customs, and relax various disciplines as an expression of this joy. To whit there is no fasting until the second Wednesday following Pascha.  Penitential disciplines of any kind are a no no during Bright Week as we are feasting with the Bridegroom. This is true even in monasteries. While monastics will keep their abstinence from meat, they too will be feasting on fish, cheeses and sweets.

In our church temples the royal doors will be open throughout Bright Week, even during liturgies.

And finally both kneeling and prostrations, whether at home or in church, are prohibited for forty days following Pascha.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Bright week...Ironically, in the world of secular education, it's also final exams week at many colleges and universities.

I have a feeling that there is a great deal of kneeling and prostrating, not to mention weeping and gnashing of teeth, going on at such locales.

[RightWingMama]

Christ is Risen!