KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Like Christians across the world, the followers of Jesus in Odisha also celebrated the Easter on Sunday to observe the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Thousands of Christians gathered in their respective churches across the state, prayed and sang hymns with great joy to mark Jesus’s resurrection from death. After returning from church, they spent the day by feasting with their families and friends.
Ahead of the Easter Sunday celebration, the people poured into the churches for the Easter Vigil, an ancient liturgy celebrated on the night before the Easter Sunday.
In Bhubaneswar too, thousands of Jesus’ followers assembled at St. Vincent De Paul Pro Cathedral Church in Satyanagar on the Easter Vigil, which is celebrated at a convenient time between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Morning.
The Roman Catholics as per the Holy Bible believe that Jesus, after being executed on a cross on Good Friday, was buried in a tomb and he rose again on Sunday. The Christians believe that the mortal bodies die, but life continues.
The week before Easter is called the Holy Week. Maundy Thursday, the day when Jesus was betrayed by his disciple Judas Iscariot, is followed by Good Friday, the day Jesus Christ was crucified, and the following Saturday is a quiet day. On Sunday, Easter is celebrated.
Christians believe that Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father to live among the humans, to show them perfect love. Jesus loved outcasts and sinners. Jesus offered hope and healing.
Jesus always told the truth and offered forgiveness of sin, even to those who betrayed and murdered him. But, the Roman Empire did not much care for someone preaching a message like this. The empire relied on wealth and was built on might and fear. Jesus’ teachings undercut all that.
Authorities conspired to kill Jesus in an attempt to silence his message. So Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tortured and executed on a cross. His followers lovingly cared for his body and he was buried in a stone tomb.
As per the Gospels, when women went to the tomb early on Easter morning, they found it was empty. Then they met the risen Jesus, who told them not to be afraid. These women told the men, Jesus’ disciples, the good news that Jesus had been raised from the dead, that he was alive.
Ms Kalinga