Countdown to Greek Orthodox Easter 2026: Key Dates

The Greek Orthodox Church volition observe Pascha connected April 12. Credit: Dimitra Damian/Greek Reporter

The countdown toward Greek Orthodox Easter, the “Feast of Feasts,” begins connected February 23, 2026, with the dawn of Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday). This time marks the extremity of Apokries (Carnival) and the opening of Sarakosti, the 40-day Great Lent that prepares the psyche and assemblage for the Holy Week of the Passion.

While 2025 saw a uncommon associated celebration, successful 2026, the Catholic satellite volition observe Easter connected April 5, portion the Greek Orthodox Church volition observe Pascha connected April 12.

Countdown to Easter: The 2026 Lenten calendar

February 23: Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera)

The “Great Lent” begins not with somberness but with the flying of kites and the depletion of lagana (unleavened bread) and seafood. It is simply a time of purification, leaving down the indulgence of the Carnival season.

February 23 – April 4: Sarakosti

Though called “Sarakosti” (The Forty Days), the accelerated really spans 48 days, including Holy Week. It is simply a play of “bright sadness,” wherever the faithful refrain from meat, dairy, and food (with circumstantial exceptions similar Palm Sunday) to absorption connected supplication and interior renewal.

The Service of the Salutations (Chairetismoi)

Throughout the archetypal 5 weeks of Lent, Friday evenings are dedicated to the Virgin Mary done the Akathist Hymn.

March 6: First Salutation Service

March 13: Second Salutation Service

March 20: Third Salutation Service

March 27: Fourth Salutation Service

April 3: The Akathist Hymn (The full hymn is sung)

The span to Holy Week

April 4: Lazarus Saturday

The resurrection of Lazarus successful Bethany is celebrated arsenic a “prophecy successful action,” foreshadowing Christ’s ain triumph implicit death.

April 5: Palm Sunday

Marking Christ’s triumphal introduction into Jerusalem, the churches are adorned with thenar fronds, and the strict accelerated is concisely breached with a accepted food dinner.

April 5 – April 11: Holy Week 2026

This is the astir aggravated week of the ecclesiastical year, during which the last days of Jesus are recounted during services.

Holy Monday & Tuesday: Focus connected the parables of the Ten Virgins and the request for spiritual wakefulness

Holy Wednesday: The Service of the Holy Unction, during which the faithful are anointed for the healing of psyche and body

Holy Thursday (April 9): During the work of the Twelve Gospels, the “Crucified One” is placed successful the halfway of the religion successful an ambiance of heavy mourning.

Holy Friday (April 10): On a time of full mourning, the bells toll dilatory arsenic the Epitaphios (the symbolic tomb of Christ) is adorned with flowers and marched done the streets successful a benignant of ceremonial procession.

Holy Saturday (April 11): The “First Resurrection” work successful the greeting leads into the midnight Anastasis. At midnight, the “Holy Light” is passed from idiosyncratic to idiosyncratic arsenic the joyful outcry of “Christos Anesti” (Christ is Risen) echoes crossed Greece.

April 12: Easter Sunday (Pascha)
At the culmination of the journey, families stitchery for the accepted roasting of the lamb, the cracking of red-dyed eggs, and the solemnisation of the Resurrection—the eventual triumph of beingness implicit death.