Ukrainian Easter night celebrated at St Edmundsbury Cathedral

St Edmundsbury Cathedral will host a Ukrainian Easter Night this Saturday – the date of Easter in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Easter night celebrated at St Edmundsbury Cathedral

It is inviting local people to join with the local Ukrainian community for a unique opportunity to show solidarity with Ukraine and to experience the spirit of the Ukrainian Easter, Velykden.

The service will include Ukrainian Easter songs, a candlelit vigil, a short guide to Ukrainian Easter traditions and a prayer for Ukraine. There will also be an exhibition of Ukrainian Easter crafts and a demonstration of the ancient art of egg-painting.

The Rev’d Canon Philip Banks, Canon Precentor at St Edmundsbury Cathedral said: “We’re honoured once again to work with Suffolk’s Ukrainian community, offering a place to worship and mark Velykden on the date of the Ukrainian Easter celebration.

“At its heart, Easter is about light being stronger than darkness, life being stronger than death, love being stronger than hate. As we continue to support those in Suffolk displaced by this needless war, we continue to pray for its end and for the peoples of Ukraine to rise from the ashes of so much destruction and human suffering.”

The event starts at 5pm and has been organised in collaboration with Suffolk Refugee Support. All donations received during the service will be given to the charity fund Come Back Alive, in Ukraine.

As of 30 January 2023, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified 7,110 civilian deaths during Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine. 438 of these deaths were children. 11,547 more people have been reported injured. Ukrainian officials put the civilian death toll closer to 40,000 killed.