0:00:06 > 0:00:10Nearly 1,300 years ago on these cliffs overlooking Whitby
0:00:10 > 0:00:13in North Yorkshire, the great and the good of the Church met
0:00:13 > 0:00:17to discuss the most important day in the Christian calendar.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20At the Synod of Whitby, it was agreed to end their differences
0:00:20 > 0:00:24and abide by the same formula in setting the date of Easter,
0:00:24 > 0:00:28which is why this place has become known as the home of Easter.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Today on Songs of Praise, we celebrate the unifying message
0:00:35 > 0:00:39of Christ's resurrection, but we'll also rejoice in the different ways
0:00:39 > 0:00:41that Christians mark this special day,
0:00:41 > 0:00:44all within the boundaries of what some like to call
0:00:44 > 0:00:46God's own county - Yorkshire.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51We find out what's on the menu at a Polish church in Leeds,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55learn about the Moravian custom of remembering the dead
0:00:55 > 0:00:57and visit a Greek Orthodox community,
0:00:57 > 0:01:01with music from Catholic youth choirs from across the county
0:01:01 > 0:01:05and a performance by the BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers Of The Year.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Our first hymn has words written by St John of Damascus -
0:01:15 > 0:01:18a 7th-century Syrian monk and priest,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22and it's a joyful celebration of Christ's resurrection.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37Our Lady Of Czestochowa is a thriving Roman Catholic church
0:03:37 > 0:03:39for the Polish community in Leeds.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Hanka came to Yorkshire in 1958
0:03:46 > 0:03:50to join her father, who'd served in the RAF during the war.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53One of her best friends in the congregation is Marcin,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56just seven years in the UK, with whom she shares a love
0:03:56 > 0:04:00of Polish tradition and Easter is a particularly special time.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Well, this is a marvellous spread you've got here.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09Marcin, is this what many Polish families will have on Easter day?
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Yeah, I think it's like the basis
0:04:11 > 0:04:15of what every single family are going to have on the table.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Tell me what we've got in front of us here.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22We have got baskets with food which first goes to the church
0:04:22 > 0:04:24to be blessed.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29And then we bring it back and put it on the table for the breakfast.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32How important is the church to you?
0:04:32 > 0:04:34It's very important.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38You start life with the church for christening.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Then you go to church for wedding.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Then you go for communion.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47In the end, you end your life in church, so it is important.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51And also, for us, when we come out of church, we meet friends
0:04:51 > 0:04:53and we chat and just keep together.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01- When did you two meet?- That's actually a pretty funny story.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06'Hanka is the head of our amateur theatre group...'
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Now, we have to start from the beginning
0:05:09 > 0:05:12because he is making an impression on you.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16'..and she put a little message in our newspaper in the church,'
0:05:16 > 0:05:20like she's looking for some handsome new actors to the theatre,
0:05:20 > 0:05:22so I was like, "Oh, my God, that's me!"
0:05:23 > 0:05:26HE SPEAKS POLISH
0:05:29 > 0:05:31No, that wasn't right, because you just come in
0:05:31 > 0:05:34as if you were coming here every day.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38'She's like a really young person, like a real friend.'
0:05:39 > 0:05:41LAUGHTER
0:05:41 > 0:05:45'That was like, straightaway, a really good connection.'
0:05:45 > 0:05:48How unusual is it for people of different generations
0:05:48 > 0:05:49to become friends?
0:05:49 > 0:05:50We don't think it's unusual.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53I think it's pretty straightforward.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57And I only feel old when I look in the mirror.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02'But when I'm amongst the young people I feel young.'
0:06:02 > 0:06:06You're younger so you sit down and you can stand up.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10'Although they might think I'm an old biddy, I don't know.'
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Of course you're not!
0:06:12 > 0:06:15And will you be celebrating Easter together?
0:06:15 > 0:06:18- We hope so.- I've just been invited, so I think so.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- Now, if you take a piece of egg. - Right.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Excuse fingers.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30I wish you prosperity, long life, good health
0:06:30 > 0:06:34- and whatever you wish for yourself. - And I wish you the same.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38I'm a bit worried about Marcin. He seems to be going a bit hungry.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Now, health, prosperity...
0:06:41 > 0:06:44- All the blessings that you wish. - And all the blessings that you wish.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- Happy Easter.- Happy Easter.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19That was Leeds Cathedral Junior Choir -
0:09:19 > 0:09:24part of a network of 1,500 children singing every week in 55 choirs
0:09:24 > 0:09:27across the Catholic Diocese of Leeds.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29The Bradford and Huddersfield Youth Choirs
0:09:29 > 0:09:31will be performing for us later in the programme.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35"Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe!" You're a bit cross. One, two...
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Part of the diocese's work also takes place in schools
0:09:37 > 0:09:40like St Philip's Catholic Primary School.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43# ..Half past two is much too late Get it done by half past eight. #
0:09:43 > 0:09:46I wasn't really too keen on singing
0:09:46 > 0:09:50but now it's, erm... yeah, good. Really good.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56You've got to sing proudly and you've got to be
0:09:56 > 0:09:58responsible for your voice.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01# ..Come from east to west... #
0:10:01 > 0:10:03It makes me happy because
0:10:03 > 0:10:07I know that we're all singing really nicely together.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12# ..Has risen! #
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Great.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47The Christian charity Caring For Life provides individuals with homes
0:12:47 > 0:12:50or community support for as long as it's needed.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53At their headquarters, Crag House Farm,
0:12:53 > 0:12:55there are lots of daily projects.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00MUSIC: "The Bare Necessities" by Terry Gilkyson
0:13:06 > 0:13:09I shall plant you two where you should find a letter.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Today is a special day for the community
0:13:16 > 0:13:20and for one person in particular who's been helped by the charity.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22I'm getting baptised today.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24It's going to be fantastic.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27We have...have you seen the marquee?
0:13:27 > 0:13:29It's huge. It's brilliant.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33I'm a little bit nervous because my family's all going to be there
0:13:33 > 0:13:36and I've got to talk to them, tell them my testimony,
0:13:36 > 0:13:38tell everybody else my testimony.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43Natasha, would you come and share it with us?
0:13:45 > 0:13:48When I was a child I was living between my mum and my dad's house
0:13:48 > 0:13:50because they'd broken up
0:13:50 > 0:13:53and I didn't really live at either place properly.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Some bad stuff did happen
0:13:55 > 0:13:57and I slept on the streets a lot by choice.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00By the time I was 16,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03I'd moved round several hostels
0:14:03 > 0:14:05and they were mainly pretty bad.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Then...
0:14:07 > 0:14:10'Before I met Caring For Life, it was a struggle, so...'
0:14:10 > 0:14:13I never thought that I would get to where I am.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16I never thought that I'd be able to get up and be like,
0:14:16 > 0:14:18"Oh, yay, it's another day!"
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Caring For Life gave me food parcels and paid for other things when
0:14:22 > 0:14:27I needed help. Pip was my support worker - lovely Pippa over here.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29'I was so angry all the time'
0:14:29 > 0:14:33and I was so angry with everything that had happened in my life.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37And, erm...then I said to Pippa, "Can we go to church?"
0:14:37 > 0:14:38She's took me under her wing,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41and I said to her that I'm like her child of faith now.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45I always knew I wanted to get baptised,
0:14:45 > 0:14:49and I understand that it means I'm saying I'm going to follow Jesus
0:14:49 > 0:14:51and I get a second chance at life.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57But I didn't think I was good enough to get baptised.... Sorry.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Now that I've seen the kindness of other people...
0:15:04 > 0:15:06APPLAUSE
0:15:08 > 0:15:13..I think I believe more than a lot of other people could
0:15:13 > 0:15:16because I've seen so many hard times
0:15:16 > 0:15:19that it means so much to me now.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24We baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30SHE LAUGHS
0:15:35 > 0:15:41I can't even begin to imagine the things I have not seen yet.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45It's just fabulous. I mean, my eyes have been opened.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50I think there's so much more to see, there's so much more to see,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52and so much more to do.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55It's really incredible.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Calculating the date of Easter involves a complex
0:18:48 > 0:18:51interpretation of the phases of the moon
0:18:51 > 0:18:54And if that wasn't bewildering enough, there are two different
0:18:54 > 0:18:57calendar systems to take into account, which is why the Eastern
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Orthodox Church often celebrates Easter later
0:19:00 > 0:19:04than Western churches do, sometimes by as much as five weeks,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06except for this year,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10because East and West are both celebrating Easter Sunday today.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12SINGING
0:19:19 > 0:19:22The Greek community in Leeds began in the late '50s
0:19:22 > 0:19:25when a lot of people from Egypt
0:19:25 > 0:19:28had to come to this country
0:19:28 > 0:19:34and it has been a thriving community throughout those years.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36CHANTING
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Easter is the most important
0:19:39 > 0:19:42of our feasts.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Eastertime is important to me and my family
0:19:46 > 0:19:49because, for us, it's the resurrection of Christ.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53We believe it's our resurrection at the same time.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01Once you enter this church, you will see a lot of icons.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05There is one special for Easter
0:20:05 > 0:20:10and that is the Harrowing of Hades or Hell
0:20:10 > 0:20:14and that depicts our Lord Jesus Christ
0:20:14 > 0:20:19going into Hell and picking Adam and Eve,
0:20:19 > 0:20:20resurrecting them,
0:20:20 > 0:20:25and that is to prove that on his next coming down to Earth
0:20:25 > 0:20:27he will resurrect all of us.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35For 40 days prior to Easter, we are fasting
0:20:35 > 0:20:39so we're not supposed to eat any meat or dairy products
0:20:39 > 0:20:44and the first day we are allowed to have meat again
0:20:44 > 0:20:46is Easter Sunday.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53'We have quite a lot of traditions we do follow during Eastertime.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58'One of them is just painting our eggs red.'
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Why do we have eggs at Easter?
0:21:01 > 0:21:06- The eggs is the beginning of the life, isn't it?- Oh, yeah!
0:21:06 > 0:21:10'And the red, for us, symbolises the resurrection.'
0:21:10 > 0:21:13- Shiny! Look at the difference. - Yeah, it does.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14Wow, it looks beautiful.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21The most important aspect of the church service
0:21:21 > 0:21:23is Holy Communion.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26At that stage, the chanters are saying to the people,
0:21:26 > 0:21:30"Now you are taking in your body
0:21:30 > 0:21:34"the body of our Lord Jesus Christ."
0:21:35 > 0:21:37"Soma Christou metalavete."
0:21:41 > 0:21:48# Soma
0:21:48 > 0:21:54# Christou
0:21:55 > 0:22:05# Metalavete
0:22:07 > 0:22:13# Pigis
0:22:13 > 0:22:20# Athanatou
0:22:20 > 0:22:33# Gefsasthe
0:22:34 > 0:22:40# Soma
0:22:40 > 0:22:46# Christou
0:22:46 > 0:22:57# Metalavete
0:22:59 > 0:23:06# Pigis
0:23:06 > 0:23:12# Athanatou
0:23:12 > 0:23:25# Gefsasthe
0:23:27 > 0:23:50# Allilouia. #
0:23:56 > 0:24:00This is Fulneck village in Pudsey.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04It looks a bit like a film set for a Georgian period drama
0:24:04 > 0:24:07with one of the longest and most beautiful terraces in Europe.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11It's also home to Britain's largest Moravian settlement.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18The history of the Protestant Moravian Church dates back to 1457,
0:24:18 > 0:24:22but it takes its name from the refugees who settled in the 1700s
0:24:22 > 0:24:25on the estate of one Count von Zinzendorf,
0:24:25 > 0:24:27close to what is now the border of Poland.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30And it was Zinzendorf himself who chose to establish this
0:24:30 > 0:24:33settlement here in Yorkshire,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37with this wonderful church at its heart, built in 1748.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Its interior reflects
0:24:41 > 0:24:44the simplicity of Moravian Protestantism.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Moravians are perhaps best known
0:24:46 > 0:24:49for their Christmas Christingle services,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52but they also have their own unique Easter Sunday tradition.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55We congregate in here at 7am,
0:24:55 > 0:24:58and the chapel bell is ringing.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02And when that stops, the minister comes out of the vestry,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05and he stands there and he says, "The Lord is risen."
0:25:05 > 0:25:08And we all say, "He is risen indeed."
0:25:08 > 0:25:11And then we all walk down to the burial ground.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18The minister has a list of all the people who have been buried
0:25:18 > 0:25:21in God's Acre, in that pasture from Easter to Easter.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27You wouldn't really think it was a graveyard
0:25:27 > 0:25:30because all the gravestones are flat in the ground.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33That's right, because in death, we're all equal.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35We don't have to have big stones.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Most of my family are down here.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44My parents, my grandparents,
0:25:44 > 0:25:46my great grandparents, and my husband.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50And then, just last year, my sister was scattered just down there.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53It must be quite moving, a special moment,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57when you remember everybody who's died in the past year.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01Well, yes, but I remember being here one, beautiful,
0:26:01 > 0:26:07still, spring morning, and the minister was reading out
0:26:07 > 0:26:10these names, and I had a friend, and her name came up.
0:26:10 > 0:26:15And, all of a sudden, from that corner came this whooshing noise.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17WIND BLOWS
0:26:19 > 0:26:23This sound carried straight on and went out that way.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26And all the branches were bending. It was wonderful.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27And I just thought, "Yes".
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Your friend was trying to tell you something?
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Yes, I think she might have been, you know, that she was OK,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36and she was still having a good time.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42And why do you have this special ceremony at Eastertime?
0:26:42 > 0:26:47Because it's celebrating that Jesus Christ is risen again.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50I mean, it's not just a ghost, it's not just a spirit, he is a man,
0:26:50 > 0:26:52he is back to how he was.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45This is a poem about what God means to me now.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49When I step outside, every day
0:28:49 > 0:28:51My eyes are open to the beauty on display
0:28:51 > 0:28:54I hear the birds, and feel the breeze
0:28:54 > 0:28:57It takes all I've got not to fall to my knees
0:28:57 > 0:29:00I can show you my world, if you take my hand
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Meet Jesus, the saviour of man
0:29:03 > 0:29:06He'll show you the way, the truth and the life
0:29:06 > 0:29:09And he'll trade it all for your sin and spite.
0:29:13 > 0:29:18# Brother, sister let me serve you
0:29:18 > 0:29:22# Let me be as Christ to you
0:29:22 > 0:29:27# Pray that I may have the grace to
0:29:27 > 0:29:33# Let you be my servant, too
0:29:37 > 0:29:41# We are pilgrims on a journey
0:29:41 > 0:29:46# And companions on the road
0:29:46 > 0:29:50# We are here to help each other
0:29:50 > 0:29:56# Walk the mile and bear the load
0:30:01 > 0:30:05# I will hold the Christ-light for you
0:30:05 > 0:30:10- # I will hold the Christ-light for you- In the night-time of your fear
0:30:10 > 0:30:14- # In the night-time of your fear - I will hold my hand out to you
0:30:14 > 0:30:20- # I will hold my hand out to you - Speak the peace you long to hear
0:30:25 > 0:30:29# When we sing to God in heaven
0:30:29 > 0:30:33# We shall find such harmony
0:30:33 > 0:30:38# Born of all we've known together
0:30:38 > 0:30:45# Of Christ's love and agony. #
0:30:48 > 0:30:51This year's BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers Of The Year
0:30:51 > 0:30:53competition is launching now.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56Further details can be found on the Radio 2 website.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01Despite the differences of customs and traditions,
0:31:01 > 0:31:04whether you're Greek or Polish, Catholic or Moravian,
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Easter Sunday really is the most important Christian day of all.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11A time to recognise and celebrate Christ's resurrection
0:31:11 > 0:31:13as the one truth that unites all.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16So, wherever you are, have a happy Easter.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37Next week, it's the junior School Choir Of The Year semifinal
0:33:37 > 0:33:41from the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Six of the best junior choirs in Britain sing
0:33:44 > 0:33:45to win a place in the final.