BOBIE-LEE DIXON and ZAHRA GORDON
According to the New Testament, Easter is a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at calvary. It is preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penance, beginning on Ash Wednesday.
This week, the last week of lent, is observed as Holy Week because it holds the days of the Paschal Triduum–the period of three days from Holy Thursday to Glorious Saturday–the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
The T&T Guardian spoke with various denominations on their observance of Easter and what it means to them.
Catholic priest Father Clyde Harvey said Easter is the climax of the Paschal mystery. "We Catholics celebrate the entire period–suffering, death and the resurrection. The principal message of Easter is that death has no power over us," said Harvey.
He added: "We are certain we were born and also certain that we should die. But we also believe we are born not only to die but to live again."
Harvey said Catholics recognise Easter as they would recognise all Catholic celebrations. They believe the celebration does not only speak to a moment in time but to the depth which is the physical, psychological and spiritual experience.
"We die every day, but also to ourselves. When a mother's child dies, a part of her dies with that child. The message of Easter is that Christ is with us in every genuine death, because in him every death can give way to new life. In the resurrection we believe that all of us will rise in him and that new life begins now," said Harvey.
Retired Presbyterian minister Rev Everson Sieunarine said the celebration of Easter begins at the start of the lenten season and culminates with Good Friday.
He said while Presbyterians observe the entire Easter, the religious practices are pared down. "It is not observed with all the same rituals as the Catholics and Anglicans do, but we do observe it. The Catholics have a more strict observation during the lenten season. We focus more on the period of Jesus Christ's walk on earth at that time, mainly his teachings," said Sieunarine.
He added, they also do not focus totally on the crucifixion but rather the resurrection which is what has brought the faith into existence.
"We do however, prepare them to understand why Christ was crucified and the meaning of sacrifice," said Sieunarine.
He said the Holy Week which begins on Palm Sunday is very important to Presbyterians because special services are held every evening to remember Jesus's last days on the earth.
Representing the Seventh Day Adventists, Pastor Clive Dottin said the religion believes firmly in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"We know there is some controversy surrounding the issue of the timing and celebration, but nonetheless we firmly believe that Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world, who died for us and is now sitting on the right hand of God interceding for us," said Dottin.
He said the death, burial and resurrection is very important to Adventists as the process really reflects the new man.
"A baptism reflects those three processes. We see his death and resurrection beyond the date. When one baptizes he first agrees that he is now dead to sin when he stands in the water, when he goes under he has washed his sins away along with the old man, and when he rises, he has risen as a new creature under the power of the Holy Ghost," said Dottin.
Reverend Desmond Austin, President of the T&T Council of Evangelical Churches said Easter was the "corner stone of the evangelical space." In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian, Austin explained that evangelical Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus during Easter. He added that observances differ from church to church. Austin also noted that evangelicals "connect the whole season with what used to be Passover."
According to Austin, evangelicals begin Easter celebrations on Palm Sunday, continue during the Holy Week and end on Easter Sunday. As with other Christian denominations, Evangelical observances include a ceremony with the washing of feet. Evangelicals generally have a communion service on Good Friday, however, which commemorates Passover and church members participate in the breaking of bread. The observances end on Easter Sunday with a "celebration service." Austin said: "The resurrection is what gives hope to all of us as Christians and that is why we celebrate it."
For the Anglican church Easter is a "high feast" or the "Queen of Feasts" according to Archdeacon Edwin Primus. Primus described Easter as a time "about the resurrection, about new life and hope." For Anglicans Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday with procession and the distribution of palms to parishioners.
He added that Easter is generally viewed the same way in all Christian denominations. "I think we all hold to the fact that Easter is about new life, resurrection, the triumph of good over evil and God's love being fully manifested and we celebrate that with the services that we have," he said in a telephone interview.
For Anglicans, there is service every day of Holy Week in most churches. On Maundy Thursday, the service includes washing of the feet. The Good Friday service includes a three-hour devotion with meditation and focus of the last words of Jesus Christ. Primus said many churches have baptisms, confirmations or the renewal of baptism vows during Holy Week services as well.