Participants circumambulated the church while holding candles. The service led by Patriarch Maximilian Vereş ended with prayers from the Bible. After the ceremony, Vereş presented participants colored eggs with bread and wine, symbolizing the body and blood of Christ. İskenderun Mayor Yusuf Civelek and Republican People´s Party Hatay deputy Mevlüt Dudu were also in attendance at the service.
President Abdullah Gül issued an Easter message on Saturday. In his message, Gül said that he joined in the joy and celebrations of Turkey´s Christian citizens during Easter. Regardless of ethnic origin, language, faith or political views, everyone is an equal citizen in Turkey and equal owners of the Turkish state, Gül stressed in his message.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also released an Easter message on Saturday, saying, “I wish our Christian citizens, with whom we have lived side by side in peace for centuries, and all Christians of the world a happy Easter in peace and tranquility.”
Easter is termed a moveable feast because it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. Easter falls at some point between late March and late April each year -- or early April to early May in Eastern Christianity -- following the cycle of the moon. After several centuries of disagreement, all churches accepted the computation of the Alexandrian Church -- now the Coptic Church -- that Easter is the first Sunday after the first 14th day of the moon, known as the Paschal Full Moon, that is on or after the ecclesiastical vernal equinox.
Note : Happy Easter to All !
Tüm Hristiyanların Paskalya Bayramı kutlu olsun !
Sometimes I just like annoying people and make them uncomfortable. Peace.
as she likes to discuss religous issues...