Bright Resurrection of Christ: an interesting conversation with Father Bohdan Boyko (video)

This year 2024 marks another bright holiday of Easter, which Orthodox believers of Ukraine, as always, celebrate according to the traditions of the Julian calendar. This year the holiday falls on May 5. On these solemn days, when our land is filled with spring blossoms and the joy of the Resurrection of Christ, it is important not only to come to the church and consecrate Easter baskets, but also to truly feel the greatness and spiritual power of this holiday.

On this occasion, IA “FACT” journalist Yuliya Khomenko had the honor to talk with the rector of the St. Michael’s Cathedral, Father Bohdan Boyko, who shared his knowledge and thoughts about the traditions of the Easter celebration.

Father Bohdan, thank you for agreeing to give us an interview. Please tell us about Easter. What traditions and rituals are associated with this holiday?

There are many traditions and rituals. First of all, this is a service that took place during Holy Week. During Holy Week, only once a year, myrrh is prepared – a special mixture based on olive oil, aromatic resins and aromatic herbs, which is used in the sacrament of anointing.

Every day of this week has its own meaning. On Palm Sunday, Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, showing that he is mortal. Many people met him, but already on Monday we remember the curse of the fig tree: it did not give Jesus food, being barren. On Tuesday we remember Jesus Christ as the Savior, on Wednesday – about how Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. On Thursday, we have the Last Supper, when the apostles met God. Jesus Christ gave them the Eucharist: the transformation of bread into the body of Jesus Christ: “This is my body, eat it.” Also of wine: blood: “Drink it, it is the blood of the New Testament.” On Friday, we take out the shroud – it is a memory of the events when Jesus Christ was imprisoned after the Last Supper, mocked, beaten, tortured, condemned and led to the crucifixion. On Friday, he hung on the Cross from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. our time. At 2:00 p.m., we take out the shroud and sing, this is a remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus Christ: he died on the Cross, his soul entered hell: and brought out many righteous people. Holy Saturday is the sixth day of Holy Week, which ends the 48-day Lent. This day is dedicated to the memory of the burial and stay in the tomb of the body of Jesus Christ. At this time, Christians are preparing for the Resurrection of Christ, which is celebrated on the night from Saturday to Sunday.

Easter is a bright holiday that symbolizes rebirth and the victory of life over death. Like any other religious holiday, Easter and the preparation for it have many customs and traditions that have been respected by Ukrainians for a long time – cleaning the house, baking Easter eggs and painting Easter eggs, collecting and consecrating the Easter basket – the most famous of them.

The main symbol of Easter is paska, which is prepared from a special dough, decorated with glaze and goodies on top. However, few people think that this buttery dough has deep symbolism for believers. In particular, its shape, taste and even decoration mean many things of the religious world. The paska itself symbolizes the flesh of Jesus Christ, who gave his life for the salvation of people. Its round shape means the Kingdom of Heaven. The sweet taste symbolizes the victory over death that Jesus gave, that is, his resurrection. The white color of the glaze means purity, care and mercy. The magnificence of paska is a symbol of the happiness and wealth of the house in which it was baked. The ornaments on the belt symbolize wealth and happiness, and the cross on it means the memory of Jesus and his resurrection.

The tradition of coloring eggs also has its own history, most likely a Christian legend. Mary Magdalene told Emperor Tiberius about the Resurrection of Christ. Tiberius did not believe this and said that the dead cannot rise again, just as a white egg cannot become red. At the same moment, the egg that was in Mary Magdalene turned red. The tradition of giving painted eggs to each other dates back to before the spread of Christianity, this custom aims to wish each other a long life and fertility.

The custom of coloring eggs is not only Ukrainian, it is known to all European nations. However, the Ukrainians gave it its own characteristics, coloring the eggs with ornaments familiar to Ukrainian folk culture. The custom of coloring and then breaking eggs symbolizes new life. That is, no matter how good the native life is, it must leave and give way to a new life. Breaking the holy egg also symbolizes the Resurrection, which awaits every Christian.

Regarding the baskets that celebrate. The custom of consecrating products on Easter left the people as early as the 14th and 15th centuries. For a long time, only a lamb baked from dough was brought to the temple, but over time, the Easter basket was filled with other products. This tradition has its spiritual essence – after a long fast, the church blesses believers to enjoy all the gifts of nature. Including, do not limit yourself in food. The main thing in the Easter basket is bread, that is, paska. And then, eggs, dairy and meat products.

Today, many people make mistakes when celebrating Easter. What exactly do people get wrong?

This is a really difficult question!  People, both believers and non-believers, make certain mistakes. As the apostle Paul said: “Some eat meat and consider it right, and some do not eat meat and consider it an even better choice.” We cannot judge people for their eating habits, but we can only give them advice, guide and to bless

Mistakes are that people on holidays have bad thoughts, slander, do evil deeds, quarrel, visit the cemetery, and remember the dead. It is also not allowed to put alcohol, blood sausage, any examples of material wealth (money, jewelry, apartment or car keys), sharp objects, for example, knives and scissors, into a basket and consecrate them in the church.

We celebrate Easter correctly when we believe in this holiday with all our soul. This is our prayer, our self-examination. On this day, it is important to perform a feat, which consists in forgiving everyone, not harming anyone, putting up with everyone, trying to pray more. Daily prayer should become an integral part of our life. During fasting, we try to think more deeply about our spiritual life and correct what is wrong with us. This is important not only before Easter, but throughout life. After all, every Orthodox Christian who aspires to unite with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God must bear his own feat.

How did the war affect the celebration of Easter?

Of course, the wartime greatly changed the celebration of Easter. It is very painful, compressed, not as festive as usual, but still people feel the impact of war. This undoubtedly affects their mood. It is important that those who have this opportunity do not work on Easter. This gives them a chance to participate in this great spiritual prayer – the Liturgy for the Resurrection of the Cross. However, now a curfew has been introduced in Ukrainian cities, so it is forbidden to hold all-night religious services.

No matter who and how they celebrate Easter, the main thing on this day is to gather in the family circle and once again wish family and friends happiness, health and prosperity.

The miracle of Christ’s Resurrection unites faith in the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and life over death. On Easter, we open our souls to God, we ask to fill them with spiritual strength and hope, we ask for peace, we ask for the protection of those who protect us, who defend our native land.

I wish everyone to wait for their relatives, to wait for victory. May the Miracle of Christ’s Resurrection inspire good and righteous deeds. Let the Easter holiday be the beginning of a new life for everyone – a better and kinder one.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!