Greek Easter

BBC Learning EnglishWeekenderGreek EasterJackie:  Hello, I'm Jackie Dalton, welcome toweekender. Now most of us in Britaincelebrated Easter last weekend – the 15th and 16th ofApril. We had bank holidays when most people didn't go towork. Many gave each other chocolate Easter eggs andspecial church services took place. A 'service' is a formof religious ceremony.
　　But not everyone celebrated 1 Easter then. As part of ourspecial focus onGreece this month, we'll find out how the Greeks celebrateEaster.
　　And we are going to do this with the help of the dean of StSophia Cathedral inLondon.
　　Bishop 2 Theo(Introduces himself)Jackie:  He's about to tell us about one of the maindifferences in the way eastern and western Christianscelebrate Christ. Some words that will come up:
　　Liturgical 4 – this means things which relate to religion orthe church. Emphasise 5 – which means to give particularimportance to something.
　　Holy week – is the week running up to Easter Sunday wherereligious services take place.
　　Crucifixion – the death of Christ on the crossResurrection – the return of Jesus Christ to life afterhis death on the cross.
　　Jackie:  So what is the main difference in howeastern and western Christians 3 celebrateJesus Christ?
　　Bishop TheoIn Western Christianity the birth of Christ is the mostimportant event of liturgical life, but in east Europe weemphasise holy week the crucifixion and the resurrection ofChrist.
　　Jackie:  Did you get the answer? In westernChristianity, the most important religious occasion of theyear is the birth of Christ, which is celebrated atChristmas. But for Eastern Christians, including theGreeks, Holy week is much more important. Listen again.
　　Bishop TheoIn Western Christianity the birth of Christ is the mostimportant event of liturgical life, but in east Europe weemphasise holy week the crucifixion and the resurrection ofChrist.
　　Bbclearningenglish.comJackie:  The Greeks are celebrating Easter thisweekend – a week later than most people in Britain. Thisis because they follow a decision made by bishops 6 way backin the year 325 about when Easter Sunday should be.
　　I spoke 7 to Bishop Theo on Good Thursday, just before aspecial ceremony was to take place. I asked him to describewhat it was like. Here is some vocabulary you might findhelpful:
　　To venerate 8 – means to honour.
　　Hymns 9 – are special religious songs that people sing inchurch.
　　Listen to Bishop Theo – how does he describe theatmosphere in the churchduring the ceremony?
　　Bishop TheoJackie:  So tonight is what you call 'Good Thursdaycould you tell me a little bit about what you will bedoing?
　　Bishop: It's one of the most exciting and beautifulservices of the year. Because we celebrate and venerate thecrucifixion of Christ according to an old tradition. Theservice, the hymns, the atmosphere is very moving and theByzantine music is something very different from theexperience of western Christians.
　　Jackie:  Did you get the answer? He says theatmosphere is 'moving', which means it has a strongemotional effect on people there. They may feel very happyor sad for example. Listen to that phrase again.
　　Bishop TheoThe atmosphere is very moving.
　　Well I've come along to the ceremony, which is in the verybeautiful St Sophia Church. It is indeed, proving to be avery moving ceremony and many people from the Greekcommunity in London have come here to honour Jesus Christ.
　　This is just one of a whole series of Easter servicestaking place in the Greek Church during Holy Week, and Ifeel very privileged – very lucky – to have had thechance to see part of it.