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Orthodox Easter in Ukraine
The symbol of eternal life and Resurrection
Easter in Ukraine is a special holiday of great importance for the Ukrainian people. It is one of the most sacred and spiritually significant Christian holidays in the country, called “Velykden” (“Great Day”).
Ukrainian Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter according to the Julian calendar. This means that the date of their celebration may differ from Western Easter, which is based on the Gregorian calendar.
This year, many Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter on May 5th. Even here in London, many of my friends (British and Ukrainian) celebrate Easter twice, according to both calendars, which best confirms the universal nature of the Easter tradition.
Ukrainians begin preparing for Easter several weeks before the holiday itself. Preparing for Easter involves more than just making food and decorations; it also includes important religious preparations and observing traditional rites.
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