HAPPY EASTER
THE FAR NORTH CELEBRATES
CHRISTIANS across Cairns from both western churches and the Orthodox Church will celebrate Easter on the same day for the first time in six years.
It also falls within the last three days of Jewish Passover.
Cairns Bishop James Foley said it was rare for all three commemorations and celebrations to be observed at the same time.
“Passover is a long-held tradition that ties both Judaism and Christianity together,” he said. “It is quite solemn before the celebrations begin and this is probably one of the only Australian public holidays besides Anzac Day that is so solemn.”
Bishop Foley said the time before Easter Sunday was a period of mourning for Catholics, but by Sunday was a “genuinely religious” celebration.
“At 10am on Sunday we have the biggest congregation of the year at the cathedral,” he said. “It fills to standing room only and when you take into consideration that the cathedral comfortably sits 650 people you probably have about 750 people in there.”
He said the high attendance rates were thanks to Easter being less commercialised than Christmas.
“Easter has kept is religious feel because it’s much more low key than Christmas,” he said. “By the time Sunday comes around the Cathedral always has a happy, joy-filled mood in it because people are actually celebrating the rise of Christ.”