'A piece of home away from home': Ukrainian Orthodox Easter celebrated in Regina
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Hundreds of Ukrainians gathered at St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Sunday in celebration of "Velykden" or Ukrainian Orthodox Easter.
Hundreds of Ukrainians gathered at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Sunday in celebration of “Velykden” or Ukrainian Orthodox Easter.
Through a translator, Father Vitaliy Ihnativ explained that he was delighted at the end of the service at St. Michael’s.
“Today is a very joyous day, a very great day because Christ has risen,” he explained.
“We had mass at 7 a.m., it started with Morning Prayer and after that we had Divine Liturgy and then the blessing of the Easter Baskets.”
The blessing of the Easter Baskets is an ancient tradition that marks the end of Lent, a 40 day period of fasting which bars worshippers from eating meat or dairy.
“The meat is blessed and we can start eating again,” Ihnativ explained.
It’s a highlight of the service, for both adults and children alike.
