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 celebrated¹ 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.
　　Bishop² 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:
　　Liturgical⁴ – this means things which relate to religion orthe church. Emphasise⁵ – 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 Christians³ 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 bishops⁶ way backin the year 325 about when Easter Sunday should be.
　　I spoke⁷ 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 venerate⁸ – means to honour.
　　Hymns⁹ – 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.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

3 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

4 liturgical   

adj.礼拜仪式的

参考例句：

• This period corresponds with the liturgical season of Christmas.这个时期与圣诞节的礼拜季节相一致。
• This is a book of liturgical forms.这是一本关于礼拜仪式的书。

5 emphasise   

vt.加强...的语气，强调，着重

参考例句：

• What special feature do you think I should emphasise? 你认为我该强调什么呢？
• The exercises heavily emphasise the required readings.练习非常强调必须的阅读。

6 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 venerate   

v.尊敬，崇敬，崇拜

参考例句：

• They came to venerate him as a symbolic figure.他们把他当作偶像来崇拜。
• We were taught to venerate the glorious example of our heroes and martyrs.我们受到教导要崇敬英雄、烈士的光辉榜样。

9 hymns   

n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At first, they played the hymns and marches familiar to them. 起初他们只吹奏自己熟悉的赞美诗和进行曲。 来自英汉非文学 - 百科语料821
• I like singing hymns. 我喜欢唱圣歌。 来自辞典例句