The East is important in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old, it is associated with the Garden of Eden and the powerful nations of Babylon and Assyria. In the New, it is associated with the Magi who came to worship the baby Jesus and the rising of the sun, which symbolizes hope and new beginnings. The East is also associated with the coming of the Messiah in both the Old and New Testaments.
The Orthodox Church is associated with the East due to its development in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, known as the Byzantine Empire. The Orthodox Church emerged from early Christian communities in the Eastern Mediterranean region and became closely associated with the culture and traditions of the area.
We use the occasion of Orthodox Easter to discuss the ways Easter is celebrated by various cultures and traditions. Easter is a time to celebrate the new life and hope that Jesus brings through his resurrection, and Christians can use traditions such as the Easter egg, Easter bread, the Easter lamb, processions and parades, and sunrise services to deepen their faith and draw closer to God. However we celebrate, we should do so to the glory of God and with thankfulness.
Scriptures referenced include Genesis 2:8; Isaiah 41:2; Matthew 2:1-2; Matthew 24:27; and 1 Corinthians 10:30-33.
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