Easter is the greatest Christian holiday that Ukrainians honor even far from their homeland. In Western Europe, home to a large Ukrainian diaspora, the celebration of Easter in the Orthodox parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Diocese has acquired special significance – it more than a religious event, it’s also an important occasion for the spiritual unity of the community.
On Easter days, Ukrainian churches in cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Paris, and others are filled with believers who come to worship, confess, and receive communion, reports the Ukrainian Orthodox Diocese in Western Europe press service.
Festive Divine Services and the consecration of Easter eggs, Pysankas, and baskets with Easter dishes are held. These traditions are preserved with great precision in order to pass on the spirit of Ukrainian Easter to future generations.
The joint celebration looks especially touching: after the services, festive meetings are often organized, where parishioners exchange greetings and treat themselves to homemade dishes. For children, master classes in pysanka making, art exhibits, and festive performances are set up.
Thus, Ukrainian parishes in Western Europe are centers of preservation not only of faith, but also of cultural identity, and Easter is a vivid symbol of this unity.
