Life That Conquers Death: Easter Traditions of Ukraine
Sister Emanujila Vishka writing pysanky in wax technique in Zagreb, Croatia. Courtesy of Sr. Emanujila Vishka, OSBM.
“Christ is risen from the dead! By death He trampled death and to those in the tombs He granted life!” (Troparion of Pascha)
Life that conquers death – this is the image that comes to my mind when I think of Pascha (Easter) in the Ukrainian tradition.
Important elements of preparation for Pascha in the Ukrainian Catholic Church, as in other Churches of the Byzantine Tradition, are the services of Holy Week: Passion Matins on Holy Thursday, Vespers with the Exposition of the Shroud on Holy Friday, and Jerusalem Matins on Holy Saturday. The culmination is the Paschal Matins, celebrated on Sunday morning before the Paschal Liturgy. In the odes of the Paschal Canon, images of life, joy, light, victory over death, reconciliation, and liberation from the shackles of Hades are constantly repeated.
Sisters decorate eggs in Ukrainian style. Archival picture from the Basilian Legacy Room collection. Courtesy of the Basilian Sisters of Jesus Lover of Humanity Province, USA.
Ukrainian pysanky’s collection of the Basilian Legacy Room. Courtesy of the Basilian Sisters of Jesus Lover of Humanity Province, USA.
In addition to the rich liturgical heritage, like every nation, Ukrainians have their own Paschal traditions, some of which date back to pre-Christian times. One of the most popular customs is decorating eggs, so-called pysanky, which, together with other foods, are blessed on Pascha. In addition to the fact that the egg itself symbolizes life, pysanky have a rich symbolism of colours and patterns. Wonderful combinations of crosses, stars, flowers, leaves, and geometric designs on the eggs vary from region to region. One of the most famous symbols of Ukrainian pysanky is bezkonechnyk, the endless wavy lines resembling water waves. The line without an end symbolizes immortality, continuity of life, and the connections between generations. Writing pysanky is a traditional art that Ukrainians pass on from generation to generation and preserve outside their homeland. In recent years, Ukrainians have made pysanky for their defenders at the front line so that those men and women can feel hope, festive joy, and unity with their loved ones amid the constant danger to their lives.
Today, when the world is experiencing global upheavals, when historians talk about the change of epochs, these symbols take on special significance. Is it still possible to speak of hope when structures are collapsing and values are being destroyed, when words are devalued, and Christian narratives are being manipulated and misused? As people who celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, we say: “YES, it is possible.” Amid the vicissitudes of current events, the Lord is the One who gives true life. Even in difficult situations, God continues to create and nurture life. And our task is to open ourselves to this life, to be bearers of life and not death, witnesses of hope and not despair, defenders of truth and not fakes. This is a great mission and a personal responsibility of each of us. May this Pascha, the Ukrainian bezkonechnyk remind us of the Paschal mystery of new life that conquers death.
Sr. Theodosia Mostepaniuk, OSBM
*Originally published in Global Sisters Report and republished here with permission from the author.
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