What are church traditions during the Holy 50 Days?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

During the Holy Fifty Days (the period between Easter Sunday and the Feast of Pentecost), the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ with specific liturgical rites and traditions. This period is considered one continuous feast, representing the joy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

1. The Joyful Tune

During these fifty days, all prayers, hymns, and the Divine Liturgy are chanted in the Joyful Tune. The mournful tunes of Holy Week and the transitionary tunes of Lent are set aside entirely. Even the responses of the congregation and deacons change to reflect the victory of life over death.

2. Absence of Fasting and Prostrations

• No Fasting: There is no fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays during the Holy Fifty Days. Because the Bridegroom is with us, the Church rejoices and does not fast.
• No Metanoias (Prostrations): We do not perform prostrations/metanoias during this period. Prostrations are a sign of repentance and sorrow for sin; however, during these fifty days, we stand tall to celebrate our justification and the standing of the risen Christ.

3. The Resurrection Procession

A unique tradition during this season is the Resurrection Procession.

• It takes place during the Raising of Morning Incense and before the Gospel reading in the Divine Liturgy.
• The clergy and deacons circle the Altar three times, then the nave of the church three times, and finally the Altar one last time (seven circuits in total).
• During this procession, the icon of the Resurrection is carried, and the deacons chant the joyful hymn Christos Anesti* — Christ is Risen and its Coptic counterpart Pi-Khristos aftonf.

4. The Feast of the Ascension

The 40th day of the Holy Fifty Days is the Feast of the Ascension. This commemorates the Lord ascending into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. From the 40th day until the 50th day, the Resurrection Procession is performed only inside the Altar (the Sanctuary), signifying that Christ ascended into the "Holy of Holies" in heaven.

5. Thomas's Sunday

The Sunday following Easter is Thomas’s Sunday. On this day, we bless those who believe without seeing, commemorating when the Lord appeared to St. Thomas and allowed him to touch His wounds to strengthen his faith.

6. Readings and Liturgical Life

The Katameros (the book of daily readings) during this time focuses on:

• The person of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life and the Water of Life.
• His victory over the world.
• The promise of the Holy Spirit.
• The 29th of each Coptic month during this period is especially celebratory as it commemorates the Annunciation, Nativity, and Resurrection.

The period concludes on the 50th day with the Feast of Pentecost, when we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the birth of the Christian Church.