Easter Sunday
morning in the Ukrainian tradition begins at sunrise. That is when the faithful
arrive for Resurrection Services. The service before the Divine Liturgy
consists of a procession which circles the church three times. The journey is made
to symbolize the trip of the women to the tomb to anoint the Body of Christ on
that first Easter morning. The makeup of the procession is similar to the one
on Good Friday, led by a worshipper carrying the crucifix and altar boys using
the kalatala (wooden clappers). Parish elders carry the Plaschenytsia (Holy Burial
Shroud).
After the
third passage, the procession stops in front of the church doors, which
symbolize the impossibility of being able to enter the Kingdom of God
before the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The priest sings the joyful Easter
song "Khrystos Voskres" (“Christ is Risen") the first time
himself. All of the faithful repeat the
triumphant hymn a second time. Then, striking the doors of the church with the crucifix
to open them, the priest begins "Khrystos Voskres" a third time, as
the congregation joins in. This dramatic entrance reminds us that Heaven is now
available to all because our Savior has conquered death with His death. All
enter the church and the Divine Liturgy of Easter, the Great Day, begins. |