Easter in Turkey fuses together two dimensions, one contemplative and the other active. During Holy Week Turkish Catholics usually dedicate part of their time to solidarity. The St. Vincent de Paul Society in Istanbul will hand out the traditional Easter parcels to needy families. A prayer retreat on 24 and 25 March prepared for the event. Young faithful are also devoting their spare time to works of mercy: during Holy Week they will visit the elderly guests in the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor. The culminating event of Holy Week is the Easter Vigil in which large numbers of faithful traditionally participate. In Greece on the other hand the Catholic Church celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord together with the Orthodox Church, and has done so for at least thirty years. So for Greek Catholics Easter Sunday is celebrated, Orthodox fashion, on 5 May.
