Easter holds a place of paramount importance in Georgia, second only to Christmas, as it embodies the very essence of the Christian faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This significant holiday is celebrated with immense enthusiasm across the country and is preceded by a 40-day religious fast that culminates in Holy Week. During this sacred time, the final days of Jesus’ life are remembered, with special liturgies taking place daily in every cathedral throughout Georgia. Among these, the most pivotal services are observed on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper and the Foot Washing by Jesus. In cathedrals and monasteries, foot-washing ceremonies are conducted, notably in Tbilisi, where the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia washes the feet of 12 church servants, symbolizing Christ’s act of humility towards his disciples. As evening falls, all liturgical vestments are changed to dark colors, marking the somber beginning of the Passion.
Good Friday, which commemorates the crucifixion of Christ, is sometimes referred to as Red Friday in Georgia. On this day, eggs are boiled and painted red, symbolizing the blood of Jesus. On Palm Sunday, these red eggs are placed on fresh green wheatgrass, which represents new life, resurrection, and eternity. Georgians begin growing this wheatgrass a week in advance, and they also prepare a traditional Easter cake known as paska. In churches, a liturgy takes place to honor the removal of Jesus from the cross. During this service, an icon depicting Christ’s body is taken down, wrapped in a white cloth, and hidden, evoking deep reflection on the events of the crucifixion.
As Holy Saturday approaches, people bring their red eggs and Easter cakes to churches for blessings. Devout parishioners gather that evening, spending the night in prayer as they await the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday morning. A unique service of lamentation is held in churches, where congregants await the arrival of the Holy Fire. This miraculous flame is believed to appear each year in the symbolic tomb of Jesus at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The fire is then transported to various Orthodox countries, including Greece, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine, and Russia, where it is received with great reverence by church and state leaders.
Easter Sunday dawns with joyous exclamations of “Christ has risen!”, to which the response is “He is risen indeed!” The festive atmosphere continues as families break bread, enjoying the paska and cracking eggs for good luck. A playful tradition unfolds as participants select an egg and tap it against their opponent’s. The individual whose egg cracks first is deemed the loser, and at the end of the game, the person with the fewest broken eggs is declared the winner.
On the Monday following Easter, Georgians honor their deceased relatives by visiting their graves. Some choose to pay their respects on Easter Sunday itself. Visitors light candles and roll red Easter eggs across the graves, followed by a small feast where toasts are made in memory of the departed. A portion of wine is often poured onto the tombs, symbolically “clinking” glasses with those who have passed. The meal typically includes meat dishes, sweets, khachapuri bread, and pastries. In Georgia, Easter is not only a celebration of resurrection and eternal life but also a time of joy and hope, as people believe they will be reunited with their loved ones in the afterlife.
It’s important to note that Easter is determined by the lunisolar calendar, which means its date varies each year, yet it consistently falls within the vibrant season of spring.