Mayor Joins In Orthodox Easter

Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s office. Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended Midnight Mass celebrating Greek Orthodox Easter at the Greek Orthodox Shrine Church of St. Nicholas in Flushing last Saturday night. Bloomberg arrived at 11 p.m. to join in the candlelight procession of thousands of parishioners outside the church. He received the Holy Light symbolizing the resurrection of Christ and in turn lighted the candles of other worshippers on exiting the church. He wished “Kalo Pascha” (Happy Easter) to the congregants gathered outside the church and left at about 1 a.m.

“It was a privilege for our parish to host Mayor Michael Bloomberg on one of the holiest days of the year, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the Rev. Father Paul Palesty, pastor of St. Nicholas, said. “The mayor’s presence, representing all of New York City, acknowledges the important role of the Greek-American community in our city.”

The celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ in the tradition and ritual of the Orthodox Church begins with Palm Sunday and Holy Week, including the Great Procession of the Epitaphio (the Tomb of Christ) on Good Friday. The service of the Resurrection begins late on Saturday night, usually about 11 p.m. and ends at 2 a.m. At midnight the congregation gathered in the street outside the church hears the priest proclaim, “Christ is risen!” Worshippers enter the church and celebrate the resurrection through the Liturgy.