Akathist by Mykhayl

PASCHA AND PYSANKY AND THE PASSION.
By Mykhayl Dzula

PASCHA AND PYSANKY AND THE PASSION.
BLESSING OF FOODS
BLESSING OF BREAD
BLESSING MEAT
BLESSING OF CHEESE AND EGGS
HOLY SATURDAY
PASCHAL SUNDAY
KOSHER
FOLK LORE OF THE EGG
FOLK LORE OF THE TEARDROP
FOLK LORE OF THE PYSANKY
FOLKLORE OF THE BLUSHED AND BLOODSTAINED
SHROUDING
RESERVED SACRAMENTAL
HOLY GARBAGE
PACKING
SERVING
RECIPE EVOLUTION
PASCHA BREAD-MACHINE
BABKA BREAD-MACHINE
PASCHA CHEESE
BUTTER LAMB
ST JOHN IN A VERNACULAR

PASCHA AND PYSANKY AND THE PASSION.

The blessing of Paschal foods among the descendants of the Slavic immigrants brought the appearance of the Easter basket custom to North America.  Stemming from a central European customs no older than a few hundred years in development. It really does not matter if the basket contains primarily confections or comfort foods. Today the important thing is to bring your offerings for a joyful Easter by the church to be sanctified as your Paschal observance.  This being one of the treasurers our immigrant pioneers found solace in that they entrusted to us its legacy.

The return of the birds provided for a welcoming custom of hanging bird shaped breads in the trees.  Talismanic decorated orbs of eggs and rounds of breads were presented for the first kiss by the sun as it woke the morn of the Equinox. The sun gets the credit but it is the moon which determines the date of Pascha, originally entrusted to Alexandria; the first Sunday after the primary full moon following the Vernal Equinox.  This provided for a renewed scientific study in astrology.  Today this jockeying of dates seams to have stifled the commercial

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materialism of this festival at bay, unlike Christmas whose date is a perpetual annual merchandising event.

In agrarian Europe the Vernal Equinox and spring was associated with many symbols of rebirth such as the egg.  Although the egg was found in the Pyramids the Indo-Aryan peoples of Europe communed with the cosmos through their intimacy with the earth.  Many customs went beyond food, as the fashioning of their music in song and dance spiriting their physik. The dance of the sun across the heavens provided the bases of many of these motifs of spring, especially in the pageantry of these dances called “hiylky”.  This meeting of winter and summer marked with the equalizing of dark to light is celebrated in tandem with the alpha and omega of the Incarnation; the solar Annunciation and lunar Resurrection.  Both events was heralded by an angel and neither eliminates the other if coincide.

In the Slavic lands the worship of the sun-god “Dazhbo” organically refocused into the enlightenment of the Sun of God; Christ.  Refugees from the Iconoclast persecution migrated north from Byzantine.  Pysanky and krysanky color decorated eggs along with tall cylindrical babka breads and round  loaves of pascha bread were baptized for the celebration of the Resurrection.  From THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE, Parma 1996 page 6 – 7 we find:  BLESSING OF THE ARTOS (archaic Greek for any yeast bread).  Deacon: “Let us pray to the Lord”.  All: “Lord have mercy”.  Priest: “Almighty Lord and God, through Your servant Moses during the Exodus of Israel from Egypt and the liberation of Your people from the bitter bondage of Pharaoh, You commanded a Lamb to be slain, thereby foreshadowing the Lamb voluntarily slain for us on the cross – Your belovered Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the lamb who takes away the sin of the whole world. Humbly we ask You (+ hand) look upon this bread, bless and sanctify it (+ incense).  For we, Your servants, offer it to You in memory of the glorious resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have been released from the age old enslavement of the enemy and the hitherto unbroken bonds of hell.  Having attained to freedom and a transference from death to life, we bow before your majesty on this great day of Pascha, the most glorious day of salvation.  Make all of us who offer, revere, and taste this bread, partakers of Your holy blessing.  By your power cast away all pain and sickness from us and grant all of us good health.  For You are the source from which all blessings flow, and You are the healer, and we give glory to You, the eternal Father, together with Your only-begotten Son, and Your most holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, always now and for ever and ever”.  All: “Amen”.  Priest:  “This artos (bread) is blessed and sanctified (+ water) by the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.  All: “Amen”.

The artos bread is often covered with an inverted, concaved plate upon which an icon of the resurrected Christ is depicted.  Sometimes a carved stamp of such is imprinted onto a central loaf which is sometimes surrounded by prosphora buns
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before baking. Housed on the tetropod (a central nave sacramental table) it is available to all for venerate, usually with a kiss.  This artos is cut and distribution on St. Thomas Sunday (Sunday after Easter).  It has become customary in the Americas on this Sunday or the next for the parish to come together for a communal meal sharing blessed foods, either parish provided or pot luck.  Unlike on “Velikden” (Great-day or Easter) when all work is unacceptable, here the foods may be served wormed.  Used as ingredients in other dishes is a First Wave Immigrant’s culinary influence as they are known to pack a weeks worth of foods for their Paschal blessing.

This blessing of personal festive food favorites, we surmised with the aid of Father George’s (Monsignor Appleyard) investigation is a counterreformation reaction to prolonged purging of the pleasures of the flesh, that was once vogue in Central Europe (take a map fold Europe in half east to west).  A personal revival of Christianity in the lives of the common people was brought about through the initiation of martyr Father Jan Hus’ (1369 + 1415), an internal Western Church bi-ritual reformer.  Claimed later by Protestant movements of the 1700s his reforms were refashioned in accordance with their agenda.  The Bogomil or Moravian and Bohemian Brethren missionaries, that is to say self taught scripture teachers from amongst university and agricultural students went into the far off villages and remote hamlets to share the Word if God with all.  Europe was still recuperating from the Black Plague and trained clerics were reserved for the more populated centers, a rarity in many of the backwoods areas. This commendable activity brought some curious circumstances. One troublesome distortion was that God was heart-fully pleased with their Lenten “fast” of abstinence and denial of the pleasures of the flesh.  The people were encouraged to resist feasting during Pascha (Easter).  Such acts resulted in self-induced malnutrition developing to epidemic proportions with innumerable deaths, as if resulting from a natural famine disaster.

Some long forgotten Eastern Rite, or maybe Western Rite village priest frustrated with performing numerous funerals.  This was compounded with the dead brought down from the mountains and in from the hinterlands for “Christian burial”.  These deaths from malnutrition were avoidable.  As Christ commanded of His disciples “Go and make preparation for us to eat the Passover”(Luke 22:8), as today on Easter people came from all over to attend church receiving the sacraments on Pascha and to feast.  Seeing these pilgrims carrying picnic baskets rather than corpses our unknown pragmatic priestly hero walked amongst the people.  Mused he pastorally carried a bucket of holy water blessing their baskets packed with their breakfast favorites for after their reception of Holy Communion.  He possibly said to the effect of; “Your foods are bless with the sprinkling of holy water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Holy things are for the holy, go share and eat these foods now holy. Remember what Saint John (Chrysostom) wrote; feast for Christ is risen!”.

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After receiving Holy Communion the pilgrims may have stopped by great grandmother’s to share their faire.  Living long enough to assume the mantle of the clan’s matriarch gifts as pascha bread and kovbassa sausage would have been benevolent for one who had seen a half-century life span.  To enhance the presentation the story of the priest’s blessing the food would be told.  This story would in turn be retold and repeated into the next year.  The town’s people now packed their picnic baskets so that their foods would also be blessed for Pascha.  The parishioners of neighboring churches both Catholic and  Orthodox insisted their priest followed the custom so they could feast on blessed foods also.  Not to be outdone the larger town’s parishes and even the major city’s cathedral followed the now status quoi of this now indispensable Tradition of blessing and eating of sanctified foods for Pascha.

This Paschal food blessing’s grew organically from the grassroots up.  This Holy Tradition may have been started by some forgotten, obscure, pragmatic holy father but was organically embraced by the people themselves.  This practice spread naturally amongst both Orthodox and Catholics migrating from the old Bulgarian faith routes across western or Red Ruthenia through the central Golden Steppes to eastern Blue Rus’ and from the south Black Sea shores north to White or Belo Rus’. Centuries later this custom would be transplanted to the Reformer’s promise land; America.  Like the cult of Bishop Saint Nicholas the blessing of Paschal foods was transported in the people through the Holy Sprit to reset abuses from unbridled Reformation fanaticism.  Bishop Saint Nicholas is no longer synonymous with Santa Clause, and  Easter we call Pascha or “Velykden” (the Great-day) is reinstated as the supreme holiday of all holy days eclipsing Christmas.

PASCHAL FOOD BLESSING TODAY  The blessing of foods for Pascha if at all possible is not celebrated in the church building like the prescribed blessings of fruits and herbs.  Instead on the church lawn where the custom probably started, or some other appropriate public meeting place is used.  Often a five aisle route develop.  A central passage for the priest and his ministers carrying processional crosses, fans and banners flanked by the baskets of food with lit candles and bundles of bread.  The owners stand just beyond though unable to escape the sprinkling of the holy water.

Prayers found in THE DIVINE LITURGY an Anthology for Worship, Met. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute Ottawa 2004 Pages 1113 – 5,  on page 1113 we reads:
BLESSING OF FOODS Priest: “Glory to your holy, consubstantial (equally the same), life-giving and undivided Trinity, always, now and for ever and ever”.  All: “Amen”.  IF ON HOLY SATURDAY (simply vested, bright (white) color) tone 2  “When You went down to death, O Life Immortal , You struck Hades down with the blazing light of Your divinity.  When You raised the dead from the nether world, all the powers of heaven cried out; “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!” THRICE (may be done in collation with inclusion of native languages) is
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suggested.  IF ON PASCHAL SUNDAY (fully vested, bright (white) color, in a familiar tone of celebrant’s discretion: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life”. THRICE (may include combination of customary languages).

BLESSING OF BREAD  One may note it unusual that there are no collations between Christ and bread here.  When this practice was developing another distortion of perceptions concerning the Eucharistic “metousiosis” (transubstantiation) was that the body (meat) and blood of Christ was turned into bread and wine so the people could eat of it.
Deacon: “Let us pray to the Lord”.  All: “Lord have mercy”. Priest: “O Holy Master, Father almighty, pre-eternal God; be pleased to sanctify (+ with cross or hand fashioning IC XC monogram) these breads by Your holy and spiritual blessing, so that it might be unto salvation of soul as well as bodily health for all who eat of it.  May it also protect against all illness and every attack of the (evil one) enemy.  Through the mercy and compassion of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with Whom You are blessed together with Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever”.  All: “Amen”.

CHECK LIST: pascha AKA paska marked with a decorative cross topper egg enriched leavened round loaf.  Previously pascha was wrapped in a square white shroud fastened from diagonal corners tied on top with interlocking square-knots as one intoned “The Noble Joseph”.  For transportation another option is tandem “pillow” cases attached together at the top back hem so to carry flung over the shoulder on a long hull.  Babka a egg yoke enriched soufflé bread baked in a can.  A candle taper is often inserted accompanying in a basket the pyramid shape molded sweetened cheese spread also known as pascha, surrounded by eggs often cooked with the dry skins of the onion producing a bloodstain tinted shell.  The bread represents the Lord’s risen, glorified human body, cheese spread Jesus’ sweet divine soul and eggs the blood spilt as the sacrificial incarnate Lamb that was broken and divided now all amalgamated and served for a Resurrection’s break-fast.

Back to THE DIVINE LITURGY an Anthology for Worship, Met. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute Ottawa 2004 page 1114.
BLESSING OF MEAT  Deacon: “Let us pray to the Lord”.   All; “Lord have mercy”.  Priest: “O Lord Jesus Christ our God, look upon these various meats, and sanctify them as You sanctified the ram, which Abraham, the faithful one brought to You, and the lamb which was offered to You by Abel as a total offering of his fruits.  Sanctify them also as You sanctified the fatted calf, which You ordered to be slain for Your prodigal son when he returned to You, so that just as he was made worthy to enjoy Your goodness, we too might delight in these foods that You have hallowed and blessed to nourish us all.  For You are the true Nourishment and the Bestowed of good things, and we render glory to You, with

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Your Father Who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever”.  A: “Amen”.

CHECK LIST: Ram & Lamb: lamb or butter or sugar or chocolate in a lamb form.  Fatted Calf: usually veal or roast beef.  Various meets, not subject to mosaic law; (Canadian) bacon, ham, and pork roast.  The ever popular links of kovbasa garlic sausages are favorites.  Originally shunned the casing roll contained the wild boar which was a pagan forest spirit.   Fish was also avoided but as a Lenten festal fare, today amongst vegetarians smoked salmon is developing an introduction.  A Lemko folk directive states poultry was to be avoided because it was the chicken which scratched up the nails used to crucify Christ.  Medicinally pure clarified grease was skimmed from the meat juices and  ladled into a small container as “Velykodniy mast” (Greatday save) to be used as an ointment on burns and dry rashes throughout the year.

Back to THE DIVINE LITURGY an Anthology for Worship, Met. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute Ottawa 2004, Page 1114
BLESSING OF CHEESE and EGGS  Deacon: “Let us pray to the Lord”.  All: “Lord have mercy”.  People: “O Master, Lord our God Creator and Builder of all things: (+Incense) bless these milk products along with these eggs, and preserve us in Your boldness, so that partaking of them we may be filled with Your gifts, which You, because of Your unspeakable goodness, bestow on us so ungrudgingly.
For Yours is the dominion , and Yours the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever”.  All: “Amen”.
Priest: “These foods are (+ water) blessed and sanctified by the sprinkling of this holy water and the grace of the Holly Spirit, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.  All: “Amen”.

CHECK  LIST; Milk products; curds and whey as dry cottage cheese riced and pressed into a cakes, or the leftover egg whites from bread molded into a white custard cake, or a farmers cheese mixture with butter, eggs and sometimes honey baked into the cheese cakes.  Batiqued eggs as raw or living pysanky for magic in the decoration of graves and given as gifts to loved ones, while others hardboiled with onionskins for a coloration depicting bloodstained. The wax resist “tear drop” dyed eggs are reminiscent of the first ones made attributed to the Mother of God.  Although many of these ancient egg motifs have developed talismanic meanings non have ever been attributed to a negative venue.  The living eggs were often placed under thresholds and in the thatch roofs for magic as their slow decomposition gave off a subtle aroma of decay which repelled snakes and rodents.

As each basket is individually blessed and during the kissing of the cross upon exiting the following may again be sung.  IF ON HOLY SATURDAY tone 2
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“When You went down to death, O Life Immortal , You struck Hades down with the blazing light of Your divinity.  When You raised the dead from the nether world, all the powers of heaven cried out; “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!” (Repeats may include other languages as many times as necessary.)  IF ON PASCHA SUNDAY in common tone of celebrant’s choice “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life”.  (Repeat in various languages as many times as necessary.)  At the dismissal the celebrant adds the refrain “And to us He has granted life eternal;” to which is the people affirm with the refrain “We bow before His resurrection on the third day”
A dismissal may be added at the conclusion with the main celebrant offering the cross to kiss sometimes followed with an icon of the Decent into Hell by associates.  If the clergy wish to encourage the long honored custom of offering a basket for gifts one may follow.  They should not be surprised if pascha breads or pysanky eggs are not given by some in lure of a monetary tip.

KOSHER CHECK LIST: Passover: “kosher for Passover” wine, salt (used through the year for seasoning and especially medicinally often as a wormed drawing component), lamb, roasted (more likely boiled) eggs, bitter herbs as horseradish root and/or radishes (often carved into rosettes) with parsley (for packing decoration).  Matzo is replaced by the risen breads.  Honey is saved to be served as the opening of the Christmas, First Blood and Theorphony eve’s Holy Suppers.  Natural horseradish root is blessed so it can be later shaved or grated over the quartered hardboiled eggs as the first item served Easter morn. Not taken (those that do say they are purifying it) is grated horseradish often with beets as a relish condiment because it requires vinegar, reminiscent of the mixture with gall refused by Christ at the cross (Psalm 69:21, Matt 27:34). An oddity often found at the blessing include keys for Christ shattered the locks of bondage.  Blessed gold or silver keepsake coins are reused for magic, so you will always have money.  Once blessed it is Simony (improper) to spend so you keep them year to year, always having money.  Knives are not really blessed but often present to carve foods on the way home for the impatient.

An Americanization as with the white headscarves (hoostka / duct-tail) of the women’s fold dress were replaced by silkscreen printed kerchiefs, which came as presents from the New World to relatives back home. The simple white basket covers are now embroidered with incantations, crosses, decorated eggs, church cupolas, cherubs and even Latin alphabet lettering for “KHRYSTOS VOSKRES!” becoming a normal North American folk art form, which is now found in post-Soviet countries as Ukraine and Slovakia.

Due to the Soviet persecution in the mother-land North America has some of the oldest organic “domestic church” customs, especially in regards to Paschal food blessing.  These stem from their preservation of the old ways contributing to their safeguarding orthodox authenticity.  Nothing seemingly evolved here just simply

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retained in the fashion of “it was Baba’s (Granny’s) way and that is good enough for me,” to the flaw.

Taking Ukraine, Europe’s largest all-inclusive country the only standardization of the Paschal faire is not what but how.  As no work is acceptable on the Great-day, everything is served as if for a Sabbath dinner, precooked with no reheating.  These blessed foods are wormed for serving later with other entries during the rest of Bright Week’s meals.

FOLKLORE OF THE EGG ancestors saw these decorated orbs as mystic links chaining the dragon of evil.  It is stated the rise of Stalin was permitted because of the apathy amongst the people for this folk art form.  It is even said the revival of the pysanky craft in the New World was able to stifle the evil overrunning the Old Country.

TEAR DROP:  The first pysanky eggs are attributed to God’s Mama.  Hearing of her Son’s arrest she took her only valuable possession eggs, and colored them to enhance their appeal.  Carrying them in her clock she found no one she could bargain with for her Son’s life.  Weeping in despair her tears fell upon the eggs leaving tear wash designs.  Sunday morn as the angle personally heralded His resurrection to her, she threw up her hands in affirmation.  These eggs rolled to the ground and out of the door into the crowds of pilgrims. They retrieved the tear drop washed decorated colored shells as souvenirs of this unique Passover, taking them home all around the world.

Using a wax resist process this can simply be achieved by dripping wax from a candle onto the eggshell.  The “teardrop” wax runs will prevent the over covered shell from accepting color in a dye bath.  To control the pattern a twig as from a puss willow was used, with later evolving into the use of a wooden matchstick, then developed to a small nail by the prosperous,  now into a straight pin inserted into the end of a wooden pencil.  Whichever was dipped into liquid molten bees wax and applied to the shell.  The basic motif is a dot encircled by dashes.  A dot is used to direct this primal design.  Another dot is laid an inch or so beyond then drawn into the first dot forming an exclamation mark.  Another is set next to the first, then a third rotating around the first dot until it looks like a rosette of dashes circling the first dot.  Dye, dry and marvel.

PYSANKY:  From the Friday market crowed a pilgrim from Cyrene left his basket of Passover groceries to help Christ in carrying His cross.  Afterwards this Simon thought it a miracle his basket was found untouched.  When unpacking his provisions he marveled that the eggs were transformed with interlocking patterns of colors.

Another dye resist method but instead of using a simple stick or pin this requires a funnel stylus to direct the wax flow.  This control of the wax forms a line so
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boarders are drawn in outlines on the eggshell.  Through a succession of dye baths ranging from shades of lightest to darkest hues, each are covered in sequence with wax to resist subsequent colors baths.  When all desired colors leads to the darkest background shade the harden wax is heated to remove from the shell.   In this final step a mosaic of colored shapes burst forth in an interlocking kaleidoscope orbs.

COLOR-BLUSHED or BLOODSTAINED:  When the myrrh bearing women went to anoint the corpse of the Lord they brought a basket of eggs for an after caddish breakfast.  Hearing the announcement of the angel the eggs blushed red from the energetic euphoria in the air over the revelation of the resurrection.  They handed out their red eggs as they spread the good news.
When sightseers came to look upon the empty cross they found the eggs the Magdalena brought to bribe the executioner for mercy.  Seeing their inhumanity she dropped them in the grass at the foot of the cross where they were washed in the blood of the Lamb.  During the quake that followed the rocks scratched pattern on the bloodstained shells which the curious retrieved as souvenirs of these life changing events.
These are but a few of the egg lore from Rus’ Miner (Ukraine), not meaning to diminish those of other lands such as the Hellenistic account of Mary Magdalene’s testimony in the presence of the Roman Emperor Nero. His roasted breakfast eggs blush red hearing “This testimony has been given by an eyewitness, and (who’s) testimony is true” (John 19:34-5).

The onion here is a prime ingredient, all through the fast the brown skins of the onion is shucked and saved.  Add handfuls of the dried skins to a pot covering with water.  If you desire a marbleized finish add fresh eggs, bringing cold mixture to a boil, eliminate heat, cover and steed for 30 minutes before retrieving.  The broth can be reused for more egg cooking.
If you desire a even colored finish bring skins and water to a boil first, steep until cooled then remove squeezing skins liquid out over pot leaving a clear dark broth.  When broth is at room temperature add eggs and cook.
If you desire a scratched effect take a solid hued shell egg. using a thin long carpenter nail with its tip sharpened on sandpaper, or use an artist razor blade style knife. With even but light pressure scratch design into eggshell rubbing back and forth being careful not to crack surface.  The under white shell will appear giving a subtle two tone design.
If you desire a leaf motif harvest some thin flat flowers, clovers and leaves.  Apply a dab of egg white to the back than the fresh leaf or flat flower to the raw white eggshell.  Tie a knot in the end of a nylon hose tube.  Insert “decorated” egg into tube, stretch nylon taught over egg and tie opposite end.  Cut off excess material pass end knots.  Place egg packets into room temperature onion skin broth, cook as above.  After steeping retrieve, cut packet removing egg and picking off leaf.  You will see a focalized organic design.  Broth can be reused.

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If you wish to use the wax resist method broth cannot be reused after cooking as it will be polluted with molted wax.  Also be aware to use an unwanted pot and do not spill hot broth down drain as the liquefied wax may cause a clog when cooling.  Do wipe wax off egg shell immediately while egg is hot from cooking.
Whichever method you desire you may enhance a sheen by rubbing a coating of butter onto the shell.  Wipe off excess.

CRACKING THE FIRST EGG by the matriarch or daughter who then peals the shell praying “Anhel vopiyashe Blahodatniy Chisraya Divo, raduysia.  I paky reky: Raduysia.  Tvoy Syn voskrese trydneven ot hroba.  I mertviya vozdvyhnuvyj.  Liudiye, veselytesia” (The Angel exclaimed to the Queen Mother full of grace: Rejoice!  O pure Virgin again I say rejoice!  Your Son is risen from the grave on the third day, with Him He has risen all the dead.  All people rejoice!).  Folklore states Saint Mary’s colored eggs rolled from out of her robes as she reacted to the good news.  The eggs are quartered for each person then blessed horseradish root shaved atop of them while chanting; “Svitysia, svitysia, novyj lerusalune, slava bo Hospodnia na tebi vozsiya.  Lykuy nyni I veselysia, Sione.  Ty zhe, Chistaya, krasuysia, Bohorodytse, o vostianiyi Rozhdestva tvoyeho”  (Shine!  Shine!  O New Jerusalem!  For the glory of the Lord has shown on you.  Sing now and exult with joy, O Sion.  And you pure Mother of God adore yourself in the splendor of your Son’s resurrection.  Kyivan Rus’ referred to itself as the new golden domed city of the New Jerusalem centuries before its northern cousins usurped the title of the New Rome.
These egg quarters are customarily served first to commence the breaking of the Greatday fast.  Each one is greeted with “Khristos Voskrese!” (Christ is risen!) replying “Voerstinoo voskrese!” (Truly risen!).

PACKING THE PASCHA BREAD that were baked in round pans which were dusted with spices recalling Christ’s embalmment, then packed in a white shroud for transport.  In the center of the white square the round loaf or stack of loaves are covered by bringing diagonal tips up over and tied on top in a time honored interlocking square knot.  The entombment prayer is chanted: “Blahoobrazniy Yosif so dreva snem prechisioye teelo Tvoye; Plaschanitseyu chistoyu obviv, ee vonnyami vo hrobee noveey pokriv, polozhi“ (The noble Joseph [of Arimathea] took down Your most pure body from the tree [cross].  He wrapped it with a clean shroud and, with aromatic spices, placed it in a new tomb).  The remaining two points are brought up and tied then the original tips tied on top again making a square knot.  The second set is likewise tied in an interlocking square knot securing a handle by which to carry the bundle to its blessing.

UNPACKING AND CUTTING the pascha bread following the prescription for the preparation of Holy Communion follows at home from simplified versions to the entire Proskomedia.  The family patriarch or son upon the dining table prepares for the cutting of the first pascha bread.  If a rushnyk (ritual runner) is available as from a basket used as a liner-cover the celebrant may wish to wear it around
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their neck and down the front praying “Blessed is God who pours out His Grace upon His priests like ointment on the head.  It is like precious ointment which poured on Aaron’s head, flows down, flowing gently down on Aaron’s  beard to touch the hem of his robe” (Psalm 132,2).  Washing their hands praying “I will wash my hands among the innocent and will go around Your alter Lord, that I may hear the voice of Your praise, and proclaim all Your wondrous deeds, Lord” (Psalm 25, 6) then wipes his hands on the rushnyk (ritual towel).
Unwrapping a shrouded bread chanting “Khristos voskrese eez mertvikh, smerteeyu smert poprav, ee suschim vo hrobeekh, zhivoy darovav”. (Christ is risen from the dean.  By death He tramples death, and to those in the grave He granted life).
Picking up a knife drawing a cross three times over the bread he says: “By your precious blood You redeemed us from the curse of the old law. + When You were nailed to the cross and pierced with a lance, + You became a fountain of immortality for all peoples, +  Glory to You, our Savior.  Blessed is our God, always , now and forever and ever amen”.  Holding up the pascha bread saying “In memory of our Lord and God, the Savior Jesus Christ” then puts it on a cutting board.  With the knife stabbing the bread on the right side, cutting off a slice saying “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53, 7).  Cutting a slice from the left “And as a spotless lamb, silent before the sheerer, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53, 7).  Cutting a slice from the top “In his humiliation judgment was passed and he was taken away” (Isaiah 53, 8).  Cutting to square off the round at the bottom “Will there be no one to declare his generation?” (Isaiah 53,8).  Clearing the now “square” bread “And his life is taken from the earth” (Isaiah 53, 8).  The square is quartered crosswords “The lamb of God Who takes away (+ cut vertically) the sin of the world is sacrificed (+ cut horizontally) for the life and salvation of the world” (John 1:29).  Piercing a top cube saying ”One of the soldiers thrust a lance into His side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.  This testimony has been given by an eyewitness, and his testimony is true” (John 19:34-5).

Some will continue slicing the quarters commemorating the communion of saints who are ever present celebrating with us.  The first cube is lifted “In honor and memory of our most blessed queen-mother, the birth-giver and ever-virgin Mary, through whose protective prayers we receive Your blessings upon all Your children from your highest heavens, O Lord”.  The first slice “The queen (mother) stood at your right hand arrayed in golden robes and adornments” (Psalm 44,10). Continuing slicing “In honor and memory of all the heavenly out-of-body powers; especially Michael our warier and Gabriel the courier” again cut “The honorable and glorious prophet, forerunner, baptizer and cousin of the Lord John, and all holy prophets; especially Ezekiel who in a fiery chariot was  bodily lifted up into the heavens and Elias of the Mount Tabor’s Transfiguration” and cut “The holy, glorious and most praiseworthy apostles, Andrew the first-called with his brother Peter and the surrogate Paul, and all the other apostles”.  Continue cutting “Our fathers amongst the saints, the liturgical hierarchs: James son of Joseph and
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elder brother of the Lord, Basil the Great, John the Chrysostom (golden-tongue) and Gregory the Great composers of our Divine Liturgies; likewise our wonderworking Nicholas whose endearment stifled the Darr Mine (Pennsylvania 12-19-1907) death toll shudder; our equal to the apostles Cyril and Methodius teachers of the Slavs, Josaphat our martyr; Andryj (Sheptytsky) our Moses and all holy hierarchs” then cut “The holy apostle, archdeacon and first martyr Stephen and the first lady blessed Tekla, the holy great martyrs Demetrius the myrrh provider, George the dragon slayer, Theodore the recluse and all holy Martyrs including our pathfinders holy Father Jan (Hus), Metropolitan Vasyl (Lypkivsky) and President Father Augustin (Volosin), our persecuted lyrical bards Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka, Father Markiian (Shashkevych), Vasyl Stus and our hounded persecuted poet laureates Taras Shevchenko,  and Vyacheslav  Chornovil”.  Cutting on “Our venerable and God-bearing fathers Anthony and Theodosius of Kyiv’s Pechersk Lavra Catacombs and the venerable father Job of the Pochayiv Lavra and all the venerable monastic brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers” then cut “The holy wonderworking health care providers who labored without expectation of worldly compensation; Cosmas and Damian, the alluring Pamtelemon and all holy selfless nurses and prime care providers”.  Continue cutting “The holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, the forerunners Kings David the psalmist and Solomon the wise, patriarch Jacob and Rachel, patriarch Abraham and Sarah, and primal parents of us all Adam and Eve” cut followed with “Our holy (family patron) and my holy (personal patron) and all the saints (family individual saint’s names) who pray that You to look favorable upon us and abide with us O God”.  Cutting the last quarter “ Remember O kind Lover of humanity our holy fathers Clement and Martin and the most holy universal Pontiff Pope (name) Bishops of Rome, our belovered Beatitude Josyf Slypyj and our Patriarch (name) bishop of Kyiv (or city), our most reverend primal Metropolitan Sotor Ortynsky and our Archbishop (name) bishop of (city), our God loving bishop (name) bishop of (city), and the entire orthodox episcopate especially (auxiliaries named), the reverend presbyteries (dean’s, pastor and priests names) the deaconate of Christ (deacon names) and every pastoral order especially our monastic ministers and all teachers of the Lord (teachers, monk and nun’s names) and our hymnist John Damascus author of the Golden Resurrection Canon,  all our singers (cantor’s names) and our brothers and sister in Christ (departed names) whom You O gracious Master have called in your mercy for everlasting fellowship with You”.  As we approach the end slices “For the blessed memory and the forgiveness of their sins our own blessed family’s patriarchs, matriarchs, brothers and sisters (deceased relatives names) all of our family who have gone before us and sleeping in the bosom of the Lord”.  Then slicing “Remember loving Lord all our orthodox catholic brethren especially (friends names) who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection to eternal life in fellowship with You. In Your compassion remember, Lord robed and girthed about with Your strength me (your name) Your servant.  You have established the universe; it shall not be moved.  Your throne stands as prepared from antiquity and You are everlasting.  The rivers (running north to south) have
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raised high, O Lord; their waters have lifted up their voices in thunderous waves of many waters.  Wonderful are the billows of  the (Black) Sea; wonderful is the Lord on high.  Your testimonies have become exceedingly credible; holiness befits you house, Lord grant for us a length of days” (Psalms 92, 1-5 adapted). Amen.

This bread is not fashioned in this form after bright week (all 8 days constitutes Easter day).  Considered a living bread if it has a large empty air whole inside it is said to be an omen of impending death, which if occurs on Pascha is considered an honor.  As symbolized with all the church iconostas doors left wide open, so too are the gates of heaven.  Anyone departing this realm during Pascha goes straight into Heaven, as when Christ enveloped Hell sharing with the just of old His glory without more waiting.  During Bright Week no dirges are sung, white is worn by all as tears are considered selfish.  For unto us He grants awesome immortality.

RESERVED SACRAMENTAL are put aside in safekeeping, as these first end slice of the pascha bread and shell from the primal egg cracked.  Along with the antidorian crouton of special holydays, wax if received with the Jordan water and various blessed herbs, spices, flowers or plants are also kept as sacramental.  The blessed salt can be used year round especially medicinally as too is the blessed save ointment. Honey is reserved for serving during the yuletide Holy Suppers.  The Paschal and Candlemass tapers are light during storms with many keeping their paschal flame burning at home in their icon corner lamp perpetually.

It is becoming relevant with expedient air travel for metropolitan communities to import the Paschal Holy Fire from the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem.  From here suburb parishes can share in igniting their own lamps and in turn give this flame to their parishioners at their Resurrection Matins.

HOLY GARBAGE from the blessed food is also sanctified so the biodegradable refuge deserves respectful disposal.  The old elementary trinity of air, water and fire are seen most acceptable.  Burial is the most popular form allowing decomposition to return the refuge as compose blessing mother earth itself.  Committing the biodegradable to rushing waters will nourish not only the unseen but has the additional advantage of heralding, especially with the decorated eggshells the time of the Paschal arrival to those inhabiting downstream hamlets.  For this reason as after the blessing of waters laundry is inappropriate to wash during the entire Bright Week.  Fire is the least used but in tightly populated areas insinuating may be their only option.

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Yet to be debated is if the use of running pluming water when embracing the use of the kitchen garbage disposal is acceptable.  Bottom line we should learn not to waste especially food as all nourishments are holy gifts so the recycling of biodegradable refuge is ecologically worthy.  At the very least feed the birds with the blessed brad crumbs, everyone has a window seal.

PACKING of what is taken speaks more of when a family immigrated than from where. There are as many reasons for what goes into their basket as there are baskets blessed.  Organically it was a simple breakfast picnic basket of a traveler.  Personal interpretation developed according to availability and need.  In days of plenty very large baskets were needed to transport all the food that was to be blessed, for many their consumption during all of Bright Week was limited to blessed foods only.  Others opened every meal for the entire 8 day week of Pascha with at least an appetizer of blessed delicacies, while still others used their holy provisions as an ingredient to new dishes.  The breads were often as big as a wagon wheel so separately wrapped. This often waned during European lean times as with the on slot of World War I.  Europe was left in shambles and products needed for this blessing where scarce. This hardship lasted through the interim period to WW II and beyond. Down sizing was in order. The pascha bread previously shrouded for separate transportation, imitating the burial shroud carrying Christ to the tomb, was now often brought to church placed into the basket to take up the space of the missing products.  More recently an even smaller basket of precut foods resembling hors d’oeurves used by many Soviet immigrants.  Under the atheistic Communism if authorities stopped the faithful carrying blessed food, they would simply say they were going on a picnic avoiding arrest.  This also brought this custom full circle.  As Ukrainian American ethnic folk researcher William Jula states “Even world events shaped the size and content of the Paschal basket”.

Many of our day are  without children at home, due to their finding livelihoods elsewhere.  For so many their parish is their closest family.  Foods are comforting but loneliness can be heart breaking.  Many American parishes today participants pack one basket with provisions for home while another contain precut finger foods for immediate sharing  Those attending the after Paschal Liturgy scheduled blessing will commence with a communal sharing of appetizers with those present.

SERVING   A customary centerpiece is the pyramid molded cheese pascha surrounded by red (onionskin) eggs.  Next to a stack of babka bread slices into which a candle taper is inserted and light.  No mater what is or not used as a centerpiece a lighted candle is always present  burning throughout the Easter meals, reminding us the light of Christ is ever present, day or night.

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The eggs quarters are readied to be distributed first with the greeting “Khrystos Voskrece! / Christ is risen!”.  The salutation in response is “Voistinu voskrece! / Truly risen!“ follows.

On Easter Sunday all are customarily served in cold-cut fashion as not work is deemed appropriate.  Some tables are laden from morning to night kept as a constant buffet.  Many wishing brews of tea or coffee will make them beforehand keeping worm in thermos carafes so no reheating will defile the Sabbath of Sabbath’s sanctity.  Some find biodegradable disposable dishes preferable to soaking crockery overnight.

RECIPE EVOLUTION

PASCHA (Easter) BREAD from the bread machine to the oven.  As Europe’s largest all inclusive country the foods for Pascha (Easter) in Ukraine vary not only from region but family to family. Pascha is the holiest of days being the first of the new Sabbaths, so no work is acceptable. The only food staple across the land is not which foods but how.  All foods are prepared ahead and served in an unheated fashion on this “Great-day”. The closest to an indispensable food item from the central European mountains crossing Ukraine’s steppes and from the marshes down river to the Black Sea coast is a dairy enriched bread, called the same as the feast itself; “pascha / Pascha” (AKA “paska”). Although the ingredients amounts may vary the indispensable part of the recipe is the fact that it can only be called pascha if shaped into a round loaf. If the pascha bread is to be taken by the church for the Paschal blessing it is likewise topped with a dough cross decoration, reminiscent of a large prosphora communion bun.

The decrease of the temperature in this recipe during baking reflects the old hearth oven method in which the oven itself cooled during the process. The optional dusting of the pans is reminiscent of the Jewish burial preparations used for Jesus, as the raised bread itself is to symbolizes the risen Christ.  The cutting of the first blessed loaf is cut in accordance of the prescription for preparing the bread which is cut for communion hosts at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy (Mass).  Here is a 21st. century rendition of this ancestral Paschal staple.

2 lb loaf bread machine
2 or 3 round enameled pans or sauce pans 8 to 10 “ radius.
1 1/3 c milk
6 T butter
3 eggs
1/3 c sugar
1 3/4 t salt
5 1/2 c flour
2 t granulated dry yeast

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Cut butter into pats, with milk microwave for 1 1/2 minutes
Lightly beat the eggs

In the 2 lb bread machine cylinder slowly spoon warmed butter and milk into beaten eggs so not to cook eggs.
Add sugar and salt. It is important to top mixture with the flour and finally sprinkling with the dried yeast on the very top.
Set machine for “dough” cycle. Let machine mix and rise. If machine has an “add” indicator, and you wish to embellish with a cup of white raisins do it when buzzer indicates.

When raising cycle is complete, take dough out of cylinder. On a floured board divide into three equal portions.
Spray pans with Pam, option: dust base with a pinch or two of ground spices as clove and or cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, black caraway or simply pumpkin spice.

Take section into hands and roll sides down and around up into bottom, rotating until a smooth dome forms on top. Place dome side up into pan, with fist push down center of dome to release air bubbles.
If being prepared for the Pascal blessing fill only 2 pans, taking third segment and cut into quarters. On flowered board roll each quarter into a rope the length of the pan’s radius and heights. Equally cris-cross 2 ropes over center of loaf. With scissors split each rope end up to 1” pass rim of pan. Spiral outward and up into a rosette, away from rope and rim making 8 rosettes. Repeat last two ropes on last loaf.
Cover pans with tea towel in a warm place until close to doubled in bulk. Preheat oven to 400o.

Take a sheet of aluminum foil 6” longer then pan’s circumference, try fold lengthwise dull side out.
Beat an egg yoke with a teaspoon of water.
When loaves have risen pierce straight down with a greased squire in 5 to 9 places to retard air pockets forming under crust splitting the top crust. Brush top with egg yoke for a shine.
Wrap foil collar around the rim of the pan forming a stove pipe rising from the outside of the rim to prevent scorching.
With your hand make a sign of the cross within the oven space.  In the old hearth ovens this was done not only to sanctify the space but to test the temperature.  If this action could not be completed the temperature was too hot and the dough would burn.
Space pans in oven on rack so there is even air circulation.
Bake for 10 minutes.  Then turn oven down to 350o for another 20 minutes.  Then open oven and pull rack forward, take off foil collars and rebrush with egg. Continue baking for another 15 minutes.

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Retrieve from oven, shake pan up and down until loaf is released. Remove from pan, pat bottom, if sounds hollow place right side up on rack to cool. If not place back in oven for 5 to 10 minutes without pan to finish.  Cool, bag in plastic and refrigerate. Cut into half, place cut side down and cut into slices. If bread becomes dry on Easter Monday toast it and serve buttered.

History: brought from Vysova (Wysowa) Lemkivchyna turn of the XX century by Olena nee Badarak (Dzula) Jula, passed onto her daughter Dorothy (Theodosia) Jula. Recipe measured and recorded by neighbor Karen nee (Campbell) Williams Shaffer ca. 1965. Recipe nearly mirrored the Traditional Easter Paska on page 332 in Savella Stechishin’s TRADITIONAL UKRAINIAN COOKERY 1957. Modified and transposed for bread machine by niece in law Marijka nee Borszcz Jula).

PS optional pascha recipe:
(using a bread machine, 1 ½ or 2 lb.)
in your bread machine insert, layer in this order
medium 1 1/2 lb.        or large 2 lb.
milk 1 cup             or 1 1/3 cups
butter 4 tablespoons         or 8 tablespoons
eggs 2                 or 3
sugar 6 tablespoons         or 1/3 cup
salt 1 1/2 teaspoons         or 1 3/4 teaspoons
white bread flour 4 cups     or 6 cups
dry yeast 1 1/2 teaspoons     or 2 teaspoons
set for dough only, NOT TO BE BAKED IN THE BREAD MACHINE

BABKA (Ukrainian soufflé style bread) (similar to but not a  Russian kulich)
A modified Ukrainian babka recipe for bread machine
1 1/3 c milk
11 T. butter mix and worm until tepid or put into microwave for 2 minutes.

Put the following six ingredients in the bread machine.
4 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
1 c sugar
1/3 t. salt
zest 2/3 lemon
2 t. vanilla
Add the milk and butter

Add in this order:
6 c. flour
Put yeast on top of flour
3 1⁄2 t. dry yeast

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Set bread machine on dough cycle (2 hours)
Spray 1 lb. coffee cans with cooking spray and dust with plain bread crumbs.
Fill cans with dough to half full and let rise in warm place until dough rises to the top of the can.
Brush top gently with egg yolk beaten with 2 T. water.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes, lower temperature to 325 and bake 20 min.  Lower temp again to 275 for 15 min.

When done jerk can up and down until bread moves, slide out putting on a rack to cool.
Simple powered sugar icing made with lemon juice can be poured over the top dome allowing to drizzle down the sides.

Makes a good candle (taper) holder for your basket or table centerpiece.  Cut horizontally in circular slices, stack with the top piece acting as a lid to deep slices from drying too fast.

SAINT YURY’S (Lviv) CHEESE PASCHA  Customarily an Easter breakfast favorite that migrated westward across Ukraine to the seat of Ukrainian folk culture; Lviv. Customarily molded into a pyramid shape often presented as a centerpiece surrounded by russet blood stained eggs boiled with  dried onion skins for color. Like a church belfries the cylindrical babka bread sits next to this cheese holding a lighted taper candle. Symbolically the cheese represents the soul, the bread the body and red eggs the blood of Christ risen.

Combine:
1 egg
4 yokes
1⁄2 cup honey
1 cup sugar
1 cup spur cream
1⁄2 pound butter softened
2 pounds farmer’s cheese, (OR dry cottage cheese riced, OR ricotta cheese riced)

Blend at room temperature (or in mixer) until smooth.
Heat in saucepan constantly stirring until first bubble appears (do not allow to achieve boiling). Remove from heat.

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Wisk in:
1 (.32 oz.) package of vanilla sugar, (OR 1 teaspoon vanilla).
1 cup finely chopped blanched almonds, (OR walnuts, OR pistachios). Roasting the nuts will enhance their flavor.
1 teaspoon zest of lemon, (OR orange, OR lime).

Wooden pyramid mold with draining holes, (OR flower pot with bottom drain, OR a cheese cloth bag).
Cheesecloth
Pam spray

Line mold with dampened cheesecloth, if using a plastic mold or pot or even metal sieve spray cheesecloth when lined with Pam.

Ladle ingredients into mold so cheesecloth does not bubble away from sides of mold. Reserve 1 cup of mixture for later. Place mold on bowl or deep plate to catch bottom drainage and refrigerate at least 4 hours. After it cools, approximately an hour there will be a concaved well formed on top. Pour remaining cup of mixture into well/hole, empty bottom drippings from bowl receptacle then replace all to refrigerator.  If using just a cheese cloth bag pour into one end, twisting excess cloth and hang from over counter cupboard held in place with a heavy can as it drains over bowl. When solidified refrigerate.

Turn mold or pot upside-down on serving plate, set aside until cheese drops. OR remove from bag by skinning bag inside out. To store soak cheesecloth in milk and cover pascha to retard drying and hardening. Keep refrigerated. If your transport for the Pascal food blessing will not be timely you may wish to pack frozen.

Serve by ladling onto a slice of babka bread, pascha bread or pound cake. Spread, eat and enjoy.

BUTTER LAMB  We can trace molded chocolate lambs to Germany and molded sugar lambs to Poland.  The carved butter lambs as we known them are unknown in Europe.  The oral history may have died out during the Soviet persecution, or it may have developed here.  In the North Eastern US where they are commonplace there are no eye witnessed to this folk art earlier than the 1950’s.  As this is when the Blue Bonnet brand of margarine was introduced to the US market in a four stick pound, soon to became a standard packaging for butter and margarines it is plausible.  We may entertain carved butter lambs are a North American development in a brief thaw of North American Eastern Christian preservation.  Colored crayons were being melted and applied with a straight pin stylus onto white egg shells in the dot and pull method back then.  This multicolored waxed on white egg style disappeared within a revival for authenticity in the post-Vatican
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II 60’s, but the carved butter lambs persisted.  The endurance may be because it really wasn’t an Old Country unalterable craft. The molded style lamb was a 1970’s Leemar merchandising promotion along with pysanky shrink egg-n-wraps.

¼ lb. stick of butter refrigerated
3 whole cloves
butter knife, fork
paper, pen, cellophane tape, toothpick and scissors

While at a cold consistency unwrap a 1/4 lb stick butter.
From one end cut 1/8” to ¼” thick pat, set aside.
From the two top corner edges cut triangle strips along entire stick length.  Set aside.  From an end view this should appear to be about 1/3 of a corner depth.  Set aside.
From each end cut 1/3 strip off, discard.  Remaining stick should have a  “emerald” or “coffin” shape.
Cut “emeralds / coffin” stick in half.
Rotate left half up standing onto inside end, turn so “top” now faces you.  Slide right half to meet the left upright half.  Upright left stick meeting right reclining stick should make a “L” form.
On upright left half inset cloves at each front top corner making eyes, remaining clove inset in-between slightly lower for snout.
Take previously set aside pat and cut from opposite corners making two triangles.  Set triangle at left top corner of upright behind right eye forming a concave crescent ear.  Take other triangle and set at right top comer completing the set of ears.
With fork make short, quick swirls over body in a fleecing effect, avoiding face and ears.  Fleece buildup can be applied from fork onto ear tips.
Taking one triangular strip cut in half, with one half wrap around base of left upright from left side back forward and around front corner going towards right making a front leg.
Remaining half strip put on right reclining side at the top back end, down right side to base curling forward and around front reclining corner to the left making tail and back leg.
Cut a pennant from paper, draw a cross in center, turn upside down.
Place toothpick in center of pennant, secure with tab of tape.
Inset toothpick into front center of lamb body with cross flag at top.
Can be slid into pound butter box for transportation or set on top of a bowl of butter.  You may wish to freeze before transporting to the Pascal food blessing.

YOUR CHOICE
Customs should not be dictated they should be develop organically.  Pick and choose as you wish, but do celebrate the awesome feast of the resurrection of Christ.

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SERMON OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (400 AD)
Translated into a vernacular.

If you love all good people and the Lord our God,
Come and enjoy our banquet at this radiant celebration.
If you are a known for your honestly,
Come in and join us in the joy of God.
If you are weary from curbing your desirers,
Come partake of the joys you truly desire.
If you have tried from the beginning,
Come receive your just rewords.

If you came after the third hour,
Come and feast with thanksgiving.
If you arrived after the sixth do not dawdle.
Come for by no means will you be docked.
If you arrived after the ninth
Come, do not linger any longer.
If you came only at the eleventh hour,
Come, do not let your tardiness delay you.

The Master is graciously receiving all,
The last to arrive is as welcome as the first.
If you came only after the eleventh hour, relax.
Come, you are as welcomed as the first arrivals.
The Lord is as merciful to the late arrivals as with the early.
The late is embraced even closer due to His kind benevolence.
The Master understands the laborer’s obligations,
He accepts the importance of their responsibilities.

The Lord’s joys are for all, the prompt and the tardy alike.
Those prosperous join hands with the empty handed.
The noble and the self important jointly honor this day.
Those who purged themselves join those who indulged.
The table is laden with a sumptuous fare for all to enjoy.
Those assembled all join so non be wanting for loving-kindness.
The banquet is a fare of faith for universal enjoyment.
Those partaking this abundance of righteousness await you.

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Let no one cry poverty for His Kingdom embraces us all.
Let no one despair over their mistakes for He forgives all.
The fear of death is no longer threatening,
The Lord endured death clearing our way.
Death’s parching thirst has been quenched forever.
Death has been subdued by He who embraced it.
Hades’ Hell He descended deep into it’s dark endless depths,
Hades’ hunger He spoiled by His rejuvenating body and blood.

Isaiah prophesied as he cried out loud enough for all to hear.
Hades resents encountering You face to face in his own cache.
His resentment we receive with mockery.
His resentment is now without target.
His resentment we are no longer feared.
His resentment is now without its power.
His resentment we now cast asunder.
His resentment is now chained fast.

Hell came face to face with the Lord God of all.
Receiving His mortality he experienced the immortal.
Hell embraced the familiar finding what he did not know.
Receiving earthly mortality Hell met Heavenly immortality.
Hell looked eye to eye upon what he saw,
Death stumbled not recognizing what he saw.
Hell where is your victory?
Death where is your sting?

Christ is risen! Casting down Hell’s demonic spirits.
Christ is risen! Overthrowing death’s stronghold.
Christ is risen! As the angelic spirits rejoice.
Christ is risen! As life now reigns liberated.
Christ is risen! There is no longer merely decay in the tomb.
Christ is risen! The first fruit of those in death’s slumber awake.
Christ is risen!  To Him be all glory always now and forever.
Christ is risen!  To Him be dominion from age to age.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia (Praise God).

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RESPONSE:

From your mouth grace emanated as a guiding light illuminating our universe.  Bestowing not gifts of greed upon the world but the blessings of supreme humility.  In your teachings through your words holy father John the Chrysostom (golden tongued), intercede with the Word +, with the Christ +, and with our God + for the salvation of our souls unto ages of ages.

Amen (affirmation).

MICHAEL JULA

203 Modern Avenue
Carnegie, PA 15106-1929 USA

412-276-2410

jula@pghpa.us
PASCHA, PYSANKY AND T

PASCHA AND PYSANKY AND THE PASSION.
BLESSING OF FOODS
BLESSING OF BREAD
BLESSING MEAT
BLESSING OF CHEESE AND EGGS
HOLY SATURDAY
PASCHAL SUNDAY
KOSHER
FOLK LORE OF THE EGG
FOLK LORE OF THE TEARDROP
FOLK LORE OF THE PYSANKY
FOLKLORE OF THE BLUSHED AND BLOODSTAINED
SHROUDING
RESERVED SACRAMENTAL
HOLY GARBAGE
PACKING
SERVING
RECIPE EVOLUTION
PASCHA BREAD-MACHINE
BABKA BREAD-MACHINE
PASCHA CHEESE
ST JOHN’S VERNACULAR

PASCHA AND PYSANKY AND THE PASSION.

The blessing of Paschal foods among the descendants of the Slavic immigrants brought the appearance of the Easter basket custom to North America stemming from a central European customs no older than several hundred years in historical development. It really does not matter if your basket contains primarily confections or comfort foods. Today the important thing is to bring your offerings for a joyful Easter by the church to be sanctified as your Paschal observance.  This was one of the treasurers our immigrant pioneers found solace in and entrusted this legacy to us.

The return of the birds provided for a welcoming custom of hanging breads shaped as birds in the trees.  Talismanic decorated orbs of eggs and rounds of breads were presented for the first kiss by the sun as it opened the morn of the Equinox. The sun gets the credit but it is the moon which determines the date of Pascha, originally entrusted to Alexandria; the first Sunday after the primary full moon following the Vernal Equinox.  This provided for a renewed scientific study in astrology.  Today this jockeying of dates seams to have stifled the commercial materialism of this festival at bay unlike Christmas whose date is a predictable annual event.

In agrarian Europe the Vernal Equinox and spring was associated with many symbols of rebirth such as the egg.  Although the egg was found in the Pyramids the Indo-Aryan peoples of Europe communed with the cosmos through their intimacy with the earth.  Many customs went beyond food as fashioning their music of song and dance spiriting their physik. The dance of the sun across the heavens provided the bases of many of the motifs for spring especially in the pageantry of the dances called “hiylky”.  This meeting of winter and summer marked with the equalizing of light and dark we celebrate in tandem with the alpha and omega of the Incarnation; the Annunciation and Resurrection.  Both events were heralded by an angel and neither eliminates the other if coincide.

In the Slavic lands the worship of the sun-god “Dazhbo” organically refocused into the enlightenment of the Sun of God; Christ.  Refugees from the Iconoclast persecution migrated north from Byzantine.  Pysanky and krysanky decorated eggs along with rounds of pascha bread and cylindrical babka bread were baptized for the celebration of the Resurrection.  From THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE, Parma 1996 page 6 – 7 we find:  BLESSING OF THE ARTOS (archaic Greek for any yeast bread).  Deacon: “Let us pray to the Lord”.  All: “Lord have mercy”.  Priest: “Almighty Lord and God, through Your servant Moses during the Exodus of Israel from Egypt and the liberation of Your people from the bitter bondage of Pharaoh, You commanded a Lamb to be slain, thereby foreshadowing the Lamb voluntarily slain for us on the cross – Your belovered Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the lamb who takes away the sin of the whole world. Humbly we ask You (+ hand) look upon this bread, bless and sanctify it (+ incense).  For we, Your servants, offer it to You in memory of the glorious resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have been released from the age old enslavement of the enemy and the hitherto unbroken bonds of hell.  Having attained to freedom and a transference from death to life, we bow before your majesty on this great day of Pascha, the most glorious day of salvation.  Make all of us who offer, revere, and taste this bread, partakers of Your holy blessing.  By your power cast away all pain and sickness from us and grant all of us good health.  For You are the source from which all blessings flow, and You are the healer, and we give glory to You, the eternal Father, together with Your only-begotten Son, and Your most holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, always now and for ever and ever”.  All: “Amen”.  Priest:  “This artos (bread) is blessed and sanctified (+ holy water) by the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.  All: “Amen”.

The artos bread is often covered with an inverted, concaved plate upon which an icon of the resurrected Christ is depicted.  Sometimes a carved stamp of such is impressed onto a central loaf sometimes surrounded by prosphora buns before baking. Housed on the tetropod (a central nave table) it is available to all for venerate, usually with a kiss.  This artos is cut and distribution on St. Thomas Sunday (Sunday after Easter).  It has become customary in the Americas on this Sunday or the next for the parish to come together for a communal meal sharing blessed foods, either parish provided or pot luck.  Unlike on “Velikden” (Greatday or Easter) when all work is unacceptable, here the foods may be served wormed.  Used as an ingredient in other dishes is a First Immigrant Wave’s culinary influence as they are known to pack a weeks worth of foods for the Paschal blessing.

This blessing of personal festive food favorites, we surmised with the aid of Father George’s (Appleyard) investigation is a counterreformation reaction to a prolonged purging of the pleasures of the flesh that was once vogue in Central Europe (take a map fold Europe in half east to west).  A personal revival of Christianity in the lives of the common people was brought about through the initiation of martyr Father Jan Hus’ (1369 + 1415), an internal Western Church bi-ritual reformer.  Claimed later by Protestant movements of the 1700s his reforms were refashioned in accordance with their agenda.  The Bogomil or Moravian and Bohemian Brethren missionaries, rather self taught scripture teachers from amongst university and agricultural students went into the far off villages and remote hamlets to share God’s Word with all.  Europe was still recuperating from the Black Plague and trained clerics were reserved for the more populated centers, a rarity in many of the backwoods areas. This commendable activity brought some curious circumstances. One troublesome distortion was that God was so pleased with their Lenten fasting of abstinence and denial of the pleasures of the flesh among others.  The people were encouraged to resist feasting during Pascha (Easter).  Such acts resulted in self-induced malnutrition developing to epidemic proportions with innumerable deaths, as if resulting from a natural famine.

Some long forgotten Eastern Rite, or maybe Western village priest frustrated with performing numerous funerals compounded with the dead brought down from the mountains and in from the hinterlands for “Christian burial”.  These deaths from malnutrition were avoidable.  As Christ commanded of His disciples “Go and make preparation for us to eat the Passover”(Luke 22:8), as today on Easter people came from all over to attend church on Pascha and to feast.  Seeing these pilgrims carrying picnic baskets rather than corpses our unknown pragmatic priestly hero walked amongst the people.  Mused he pastorally carried a bucket of holy water blessing their baskets packed with their breakfast favorites for after their reception of Holy Communion.  He possibly said to the effect; “Your foods are bless with the sprinkling of holy water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Holy things for the holy, go share and eat these foods now holy. Remember what Saint John (Chrysostom) wrote; Celebrate with feasting for Christ is risen!”.

After receiving Holy Communion the pilgrims may have stopped by great grandmother’s to share their faire.  Living long assuming the mantle of the clan’s matriarch gifts as pascha bread and kovbassa sausage would have been benevolent to one who saw a half-century life span.  To enhance the presentation the story of the priest’s blessing of this food was told.  This story would in turn be retold and repeated into the next year.  The town’s people now packed their picnic baskets so their foods would also be blessed for Pascha.  The parishioners of neighboring churches both Catholic and  Orthodox insisted their priest followed the custom so they could feast on blessed foods also.  Not to be outdone the larger town’s parishes and even the major city’s cathedral followed the now status quoi of this now indispensable blessing and eating of sanctified foods for Pascha.

This Paschal food blessing’s grew organically from the grassroots up.  This Holy Tradition may have been started by some forgotten, obscure, pragmatic holy father but was embraced by the people themselves.  This practice spread naturally amongst both Orthodox and Catholics migrating from western or Red Ruthenia across the central Golden Steppes to the eastern Blue Rus’ and from the south Black Sea shores north to White or Belo Rus’. Centuries.  Later this custom was transplanted in the Reformer’s promise land; America.  Like the cult of Bishop Saint Nicholas the blessing of Paschal foods was transported by the Holy Sprit to reset abuses from unbridled Reformation fanaticism.  Bishop Saint Nicholas is no longer synonymous with Santa Clause, and  Easter known as Pascha or “Velykden” (the Greatday) is reinstated as the supreme of all holy days eclipsing Christmas.

PASCHAL FOOD BLESSING TODAY
The blessing of foods for Pascha if at all possible is not celebrated in the church building like the prescribed blessings of fruits and herbs but instead on the church lawn where the custom started, or some other appropriate public meeting place.

Prayers found in THE DIVINE LITURGY an Anthology for Worship, Met. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute Ottawa 2004 Pages 1113 – 5,  on page 1113 we reads:
BLESSING OF FOODS Priest: “Glory to your holy, consubstantial, life-giving and undivided Trinity, always, now and for ever and ever”.  All: “Amen”.  IF ON HOLY SATURDAY (simply vested, bright (white) color) tone 2  “When You went down to death, O Life Immortal , You struck Hades down with the blazing light of Your divinity.  When You raised the dead from the nether world, all the powers of heaven cried out; “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!” THRICE (may be done in combination with inclusion of native languages) is suggested.  IF ON PASCHAL SUNDAY (fully vested, bright (white) color) a foamier tone at celebrants discretion: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life”. THRICE (may include combination of customary languages).

BLESSING OF BREAD  One may note it strange here that there are no collations between Christ and bread here.  When this practice was developing a distortion of perceptions concerning the Eucharistic “metousiosis” (transubstantiation) was that the body (meat) and blood of Christ was turned into bread and wine so the people could eat of it.
Deacon: “Let us pray to the Lord”.  All: “Lord have mercy”. Priest: “O Holy Master, Father almighty, pre-eternal God; be pleased to sanctify (+ with cross or hand fashioning IC XC monogram) these breads by Your holy and spiritual blessing, so that it might be unto salvation of soul as well as bodily health for all who eat of it.  May it also protect against all illness and every attack of the (evil one) enemy.  Through the mercy and compassion of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with Whom You are blessed together with Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever”.  All: “Amen”.

CHECK LIST: pascha AKA paska marked with a decorated cross topper egg enriched leavened round loaf.  Originally pascha was wrapped in a square white shroud fastened at the diagonal corners tied on top with interlocking square-knots as one intoned “The Noble Joseph”.  For transportation another option is tandem “pillow” cases attached together at the top hem so to carry flung over the shoulder for a long hull.  Babka a egg yoke enriched soufflé bread baked in a can.  A candle taper is often inserted accompanying in a basket the pyramid shaped molded honeyed cheese spread also known as pascha surrounded by eggs often cooked with the dry skins of the onion producing a bloodstain color.  The bread represents the Lord’s risen glorified  human body, cheese spread Jesus’ sweet divine soul and eggs the blood spilt as the sacrificial incarnate Lamb was broken and divided amalgamated served for the Resurrection’s break-fast.

Back to THE DIVINE LITURGY an Anthology for Worship, Met. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute Ottawa 2004 page 1114.
BLESSING OF MEAT  Deacon: “Let us pray to the Lord”.   All; “Lord have mercy”.  Priest: “O Lord Jesus Christ our God, look upon these various meats, and sanctify them as You sanctified the ram, which Abraham, the faithful one brought to You, and the lamb which was offered to You by Abel as a total offering of his fruits.  Sanctify them also as You sanctified the fatted calf, which You ordered to be slain for Your prodigal son when he returned to You, so that just as he was made worthy to enjoy Your goodness, we too might delight in these foods that You have hallowed and blessed to nourish us all.  For You are the true Nourishment and the Bestowed of good things, and we render glory to You, with Your Father Who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever”.  A: “Amen”.

(CHECK LIST: Ram & Lamb: lamb or butter or sugar or chocolate in a lamb form.  Fatted Calf: usually veal or roast beef.  Various meets, not subject to mosaic law; (Canadian) bacon, ham, pork roast and ever popular links of kovbasa garlic sausages are favorites. Fish was avoided as a Lenten fare but amongst vegetarians smoked salmon is developing as an introduction.  A Lemko folk directive states poultry was to be avoided because it was the chicken which scratched up the nails used to crucify Christ.  Medicinally pure clarified grease was skimmed from the meat juices and  ladled into a small container as “Velykodniy mast” (Greatday save) to be used as an ointment on burns and dry rashes throughout the year.

Back to THE DIVINE LITURGY an Anthology for Worship, Met. Andrey Sheptytsky Institute Ottawa 2004, Page 1114
BLESSING OF CHEESE and EGGS  Deacon: “Let us pray to the Lord”.  All: “Lord have mercy”.  People: “O Master, Lord our God Creator and Builder of all things: (+Incense) bless these milk products along with these eggs, and preserve us in Your boldness, so that partaking of them we may be filled with Your gifts, which You, because of Your unspeakable goodness, bestow on us so ungrudgingly.
For Yours is the dominion , and Yours the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever”.  All: “Amen”.
Priest: “These foods are (+ water) blessed and sanctified by the sprinkling of this holy water and the grace of the Holly Spirit, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.  All: “Amen”.

CHECK  LIST; Milk products; curds and whey as dry cottage cheese pressed into a cakes, or the leftover egg whites from bread making molded into a white custard cake, or a farmers cheese mixture with butter, eggs and sometimes honey baked into the cheese cakes.  Batiqued eggs both raw or living pysanky for magic for decorating the graves or given as gifts to dear ones, while others hardboiled with onionskins for coloration depicting bloodstained. The wax resist “tear drops” dyed eggs are reminiscent of the first ones made attributed to the Mother of God, for our consumption.  Although many of these ancient egg motifs have developed talismanic meanings non have ever been in a negative.  The living eggs were often placed under thresholds and in the thatch roofs for magic as their slow decomposition gave off a subtle aroma of decay which repelled snakes and rodents.

As each basket is individually blessed and during the kissing of the cross upon exiting the following may again be sung.
IF ON HOLY SATURDAY tone 2  “When You went down to death, O Life Immortal , You struck Hades down with the blazing light of Your divinity.  When You raised the dead from the nether world, all the powers of heaven cried out; “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!” (Repeats may include other languages as many times as necessary.)  IF ON PASCHA SUNDAY in common tone of celebrant’s choice “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life”.  (Repeat with various languages as many times as necessary.)  At the dismissal the celebrant adds the refrain “And to us He has granted life eternal;” to which is the people affirm with the refrain “We bow before His resurrection on the third day”
(A dismissal may be added at the conclusion with the main celebrant offering the cross to kiss sometimes followed with an icon of the Decent into Hell by associates.  If the clergy wish to encourage the long honored custom for an offering a basket may follow.  One should not be surprised if pascha breads or pysanky eggs are not given in lure of a monetary tip.)

KOSHER CHECK LIST: Passover: kosher wine, salt (used through the year for seasoning and especially medicinally), lamb, roasted (or boiled) eggs, bitter herbs as horseradish root and/or radishes (often made into rosettes) with parsley (for decoration).  Not taken is grated horseradish and beets relish condiments because it requires vinegar, reminiscent of the mixture with gall refused by Christ at the cross (Psalm 69:21, Matt 27:34).  The blessed horseradish root is shaved or grated over hardboiled eggs for the first item served.  Matzo is replaced by the risen breads.  Honey saved for the Christmas, First Blood and Theorphony eve’s Holy Suppers.  Odds and ends that are blessed include keys as Christ shattered the locks of bondage.  Blessed gold or silver keepsake coins are reused for magic, so you will always have money.  Once blessed it is Simony to spend so you keep them year to year always having money.  Knives are not really blessed but often present to carve foods on the way home for the impatient.

Americanization like the white headscarves (hoostka / duct-tail) in women’s fold dress were replaced by silkscreen printed kerchiefs which came as presents from the New World to relatives at home. The simple white basket covers are now embroidered with incantations, crosses, decorated eggs, church cupolas, cherubs and even Latin alphabet lettering “KHRYSTOS VOSKRES!” have become a normal North American form which is now found in post-Soviet Ukraine.

Due to the Soviet persecution in the mother-land North America has some of the oldest organic “domestic church” customs especially for Paschal food blessing.  These stem from the preservation of the old ways contributing to their orthodox authenticity.  Nothing was seemingly evolved here but retained in the fashion of “it was Baba’s (Granny’s) way and is our way” to the flaw.

Taking Ukraine, Europe’s largest all-inclusive country the only standardization of the Paschal faire is not what but how.  As no work is acceptable on the Greatday everything is served as if a Sabbath dinner, precooked and not reheated.  These blessed foods are wormed for serving with other entries during the rest of Bright Week’s meals.

FOLKLORE OF THE EGG ancestors saw these decorated orbs as mystic links chaining the dragon of evil.  It is stated the rise of Stalin was permitted because of the apathy amongst the people for this folk art form.

TEAR DROP:  The first pysanky eggs are attributed to God’s Mama.  Hearing of her Son’s arrest she took her only valuable possession eggs, coloring them to enhance their appeal.  Carrying them in her clock she found no one she could bargain with for her Son’s life.  Weeping in despair her tears fell upon the eggs leaving tear wash designs.  Sunday morn as the angle personally heralded His resurrection to her she threw up her hands in exclamation.  The eggs rolled to the ground and out of the door into the crowds of pilgrims. They retrieved the tear drop washed decorated colored shells as souvenirs of this unique Passover.

Using a wax resist process this can simply be achieved by dripping wax from a candle onto the eggshell.  The “teardrop” wax runs will prevent the over covered shell from accepting color in a dye bath.  To control the pattern a twig as from a puss willow was used, with later evolving into the use of a wooden matchstick, than a small nail by the prosperous developed now into a straight pin inserted into the end of a wooden pencil.  Whichever was dipped into liquid molten bees wax and applied to the shell.  The basic motif is a dot encircled by dashes.  A dot is used to direct the primal design.  Another dot is laid an inch or so then drawn into the first forming an exclamation mark.  Another is set next to the first, then a third rotating until it looks like a rosette of dashes circling the first dot.  Dye, dry and marvel.

PYSANKY:  From the Friday crowed a pilgrim from Cyrene left his basket of Passover groceries to help Christ in carrying His cross.  Afterwards this Simon  thought it a miracle his basket was found untouched, then unpacking it he was marveled that the eggs were transformed with interlocking patterns of colors.

Another dye resist method but instead of using a simple stick or pin requires a funnel stylus to direct the wax flow.  This controls the wax forming a line so boarders are drawn in outlines.  Through a succession of dye baths ranging from shades of lightest to darkest hues, which are covered in sequence with wax to resist subsequent colors baths.  When all desired colors leads to the background shade the harden wax is heated to remove from the shell.   In this final step a mosaic of colored shapes burst forth in an interlocking kaleidoscope orbs.

COLOR-BLUSHED or BLOODSTAINED:  When the myrrh bearing women went to anoint the corpse of the Lord they brought a basket of eggs for an after caddish breakfast.  Hearing the announcement of the angel the eggs blushed red from the energetic euphoria in the air over the revelation of the resurrection.  They handed out the red eggs as they spread the good news.
When sightseers came to look upon the empty cross they found the eggs the Magdalena brought to bribe the executioner for mercy.  Seeing their inhumanity she dropped them on the grass at the foot of the cross where they were washed in the blood of the Lamb.  During the quake that followed the rocks scratched pattern on the bloodstained shells which the curious retrieved as souvenirs of these life changing events.
These are but a few of the egg lore from Rus’ Miner (Ukraine), not meaning to diminish those of other lands such as the Hellenistic account of Mary Magdalene’s testimony in the presence of the Roman Emperor Nero. His toasted breakfast eggs blush red hearing “This testimony has been given by an eyewitness, and (who’s) testimony is true” (John 19:34-5).

The onion here is a prime ingredient, all through the fast the brown skins of the onion is shucked and saved.  Add handfuls of the dried skins to a pot covering with water.  If you desire a marbleized finish add eggs, bringing cold mixture to a boil, eliminate heat, cover and steed for 30 minutes before retrieving.  The broth can be reused for more egg cooking.
If you desire a even colored finish bring skins and water to a boil first, steep until cooled then remove and squeeze skins leaving a clear dark broth.  When broth is at room temperature add eggs and cook.
If you desire a scratched effect upon the solid hued eggshell use a thin long carpenter nail sharpening its tip on sandpaper, or use an artist razor blade style knife. With even but light pressure scratch design into eggshell being careful not to crack surface.  The under white shell will appear giving a subtle two tone design.
If you desire a leaf motif harvest some thin flat flowers, clovers and leaves.  Apply a dab of egg white to the back than the fresh leaf or flat flower to the raw white eggshell.  Tie a knot to the end of a nylon hose tube.  Insert “decorated” egg into tube, stretch nylon taught over egg and tie opposite end.  Cut off excess material pass end knots.  Place egg packets into room temperature onion skin broth, cook as above.  After steeping retrieve, cut packet removing egg and picking off leaf.  You will see a focalized organic design.  Broth can be reused.
If you wish to use the wax resist method broth cannot be reused after cooking as it will be polluted with molted wax.  Also be aware to use an unwanted pot and do not spill hot broth down drain as the liquefied wax may cause a clog.  Do wipe wax off egg shell immediately while egg is hot from cooking.
Whichever method you desire you may add a sheen by rubbing a coating of butter onto the shell.  Wipe off excess.

CRACKING THE FIRST EGG by the matriarch or daughter who then peals the shell praying “Anhel vopiyashe Blahodatniy Chisraya Divo, raduysia.  I paky reky: Raduysia.  Tvoy Syn voskrese trydneven ot hroba.  I mertviya vozdvyhnuvyj.  Liudiye, veselytesia” (The Angel exclaimed to the Queen Mother full of grace: Rejoice!  O pure Virgin again I say rejoice!  Your Son is risen from the grave on the third day, with Him He has risen all the dead.  All people rejoice!).  The eggs are quartered for each person then blessed horseradish root shaved atop of them while chanting “Svitysia, svitysia, novyj lerusalune, slava bo Hospodnia na tebi vozsiya.  Lykuy nyni I veselysia, Sione.  Ty zhe, Chistaya, krasuysia, Bohorodytse, o vostianiyi Rozhdestva tvoyeho”  (Shine!  Shine!  O New Jerusalem!  For the glory of the Lord has shown on you.  Sing now and exult with joy, O Sion.  And you pure Mother of God adorn yourself in the splendor of your Son’s resurrection [Kyivan Rus’ referred to itself as the new golden domed city of the New Jerusalem centuries before its northern cousins usurped the title of the New Rome]).
These egg quarters are customarily served first to commence the breaking of the Greatday fast.  Each one is greeted with “Khristos Voskrese!” (Christ is risen!) replying “Voerstinoo voskrese!” (Truly risen!).

PACKING THE PASCHA BREAD were baked in round pans which were dusted with spices recalling Christ’s embalmment were then packed in a white shroud for transport.  In the center of the white square the round loaf or stack of loaves are covered by bringing diagonal tips up over and tied on top in a time honored interlocking square knot while the entombment prayer is chanted: “Blahoobrazniy Yosif so dreva snem prechisioye teelo Tvoye; Plaschanitseyu chistoyu obviv, ee vonnyami vo hrobee noveey pokriv, polozhi“ (The noble Joseph (of Arimathea) took down Your most pure body from the tree.  He wrapped it with a clean shroud and, with aromatic spices, placed it in a new tomb).  The remaining two points are brought up and tied then the originals tied on top again making a square knot.  The second set is likewise tied in an interlocking square now securing a handle by which to carry the bundle to its blessing.

UNPACKING AND CUTTING the pascha bread following the prescription for the preparation of Holy Communion follows at home from simplified version to the entire Proskomedia.  The family patriarch or son upon the dining table prepares for the cutting of the first pascha bread.  If a rushnyk (ritual runner) is available as from a basket used as a liner-cover the celebrant may wish to wear it around their neck and down the front praying “Blessed is God who pours out His Grace upon His priests like ointment on the head.  It is like precious ointment which poured on Aaron’s head, flows down, flowing gently down on Aaron’s  beard to touch the hem of his robe” (Psalm 132,2).  Washing their hands praying “I will wash my hands among the innocent and will go around Your alter Lord, that I may hear the voice of Your praise, and proclaim all Your wondrous deeds, Lord” (Psalm 25, 6) then wipes his hands on the rushnyk (ritual towel).
Unwrapping a shrouded bread chanting “Khristos voskrese eez mertvikh, smerteeyu smert poprav, ee suschim vo hrobeekh, zhivoy darovav”. (Christ is risen from the dean.  By death He tramples death, and to those in the grave He granted life).
Picking up a knife drawing a cross three times over the bread he says: “By your precious blood You redeemed us from the curse of the old law. + When You were nailed to the cross and pierced with a lance, + You became a fountain of immortality for all peoples, +  Glory to You, our Savior.  Blessed is our God, always , now and forever and ever amen”.  Holding up the pascha bread saying “In memory of our Lord and God, the Savior Jesus Christ” then puts it on a cutting board.  With the knife stabbing the bread on the right side, cutting off a slice saying “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53, 7).  Cutting a slice from the left “And as a spotless lamb, silent before the sheerer, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53, 7).  Cutting a slice from the top “In his humiliation judgment was passed and he was taken away” (Isaiah 53, 8).  Cutting to square the round from the bottom “Will there be no one to declare his generation?” (Isaiah 53,8).  Clearing the now “square” bread “And his life is taken from the earth” (Isaiah 53, 8).  The square is quartered crosswords “The lamb of God Who takes away + the sin of the world is sacrificed + for the life and salvation of the world” (John 1:29).  Piercing a top cube saying ”One of the soldiers thrust a lance into His side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.  This testimony has been given by an eyewitness, and his testimony is true” (John 19:34-5).

Some will continue slicing the quarters commemorating the communion of saints who is present celebrating with us.  The first cube is lifted “In honor and memory of our most blessed queen-mother, the birth-giver and ever-virgin Mary, through whose protective prayers we receive Your blessings upon all Your children from your highest heavens, O Lord”.  The first slice “The queen stood at your right hand arrayed in golden robes and adornments” (Psalm 44,10). Continuing slicing “In honor and memory of all the heavenly out of the body powers; especially Michael our warier and Gabriel the courier” again cut “The honorable and glorious prophet, forerunner, baptizer and cousin of the Lord John, and all holy prophets; especially Ezekiel who in a fiery chariot was  bodily lifted up into the heavens and Elias of Mount Tabor’s Transfiguration” and cut “The holy, glorious and most praiseworthy apostles, Andrew the first-called with his brother Peter and the surrogate Paul, and all the other apostles”.  Continue cutting “Our fathers amongst the saints, the liturgical hierarchs: James son of Joseph and elder brother of the Lord, Basil the Great, John the Chrysostom and Gregory the Great composers of our Divine Liturgies; likewise our wonderworking Nicholas whose  endearment stifled of the Darr Mine (Pennsylvania) death toll shudder; our equal to the apostles Cyril and Methodius teachers of the Slavs, Josaphat our martyr; Andryj (Sheptytsky) our Moses and all holy hierarchs” then cut “The holy apostle, archdeacon and first martyr Stephen and the first lady blessed Tekla, the holy great martyrs Demetrius the myrrh provider, George the dragon slayer, Theodore the recluse and all holy Martyrs including our pathfinders holy Father Jan (Hus), Metropolitan Vasyl (Lypkivsky) and President Father Augustin (Volosin), our persecuted lyrical bards Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka, Father Markiian (Shashkevych), Vasyl Stus and our hounded persecuted poet laureates Taras Shevchenko,  and Vyacheslav  Chornovil”.  Cutting on “Our venerable and God-bearing fathers Anthony and Theodosius of Kyiv’s Pechersk Catacomb Lavra and the venerable father Job of the Pochayiv Lavra and the all venerable monastic brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers” then cut “The holy wonderworking physicians who labored without expectation of worldly compensation; Cosmas and Damian, the alluring Pamtelemon and all holy selfless healers”.  Continue cutting “The holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, Kings David the psalmist and Solomon the wise, patriarch Jacob and Rachel, patriarch Abraham and Sarah, and primal parents of us all Adam and Eve” cut followed with “Our holy (family patron) and my holy (personal patron) and all the saints (family individual saint’s names) who pray for You to look favorable upon us and abide with us O God”.  Cutting the last quarter “ Remember O kind lover of humanity our holy fathers Clement and Martin and the most holy universal Pontiff Pope (name) Bishops of Rome, our belovered Beatitude Josyf Slypyj and our Patriarch (name) bishop of Kyiv (or city), our most reverend primal Metropolitan Sotor Ortynsky and our Archbishop (name) bishop of (city), our God loving bishop (name) bishop of (city), and the entire orthodox episcopate especially (auxiliary names), the reverend presbyteries (dean’s, pastor and priests names) the deaconate of Christ (deacon names) and every pastoral order especially our monastic ministers and all teachers of the Lord (teachers, monk and nun’s names) and our hymnist John Damascus author of the Golden Resurrection Canon,  all singers (cantor’s names) and our brothers and sister in Christ (departed names) whom You O gracious Master have called in your mercy to everlasting fellowship with You”.  As we approach the end slice “For the blessed memory and the forgiveness of their sins the our own blessed patriarchs and matriarch (deceased relatives names) of our family who have gone before us and sleeps in the Lord”.  Then slicing “Remember loving Lord all our orthodox catholic brothers and sisters especially (friends names) who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection to eternal life in fellowship with You. In Your compassion remember, my Lord robed and girthed about with strength, me (your name) your servant.  You have established the universe; it shall not be moved.  Your throne stands as prepared from antiquity and You are everlasting.  The rivers (running north to south) have raised high, O Lord; their waters have lifted up their voices in thunderous waves of many waters.  Wonderful are the billows of  the (Black) Sea; wonderful is the Lord on high.  Your testimonies have become exceedingly credible; holiness befits you house, Lord grant for us a length of days” (Psalms 92, 1-5 adapted).
Amen.

This bread is never fashioned in this form after bright week (8 days constitutes Easter day).  Considered a living bread if it has an large empty air whole inside it is said to be an omen of impending death, which if occurs on Pascha is considered an honor.  As symbolized with all the iconostas church doors left wide open, so are the gates of heaven.  Anyone departing this realm during Pascha goes straight into Heaven, as when Christ closed Hell and the just of old followed Him into glory with no more waiting.  During Bright Week no dirges are sung, white is worn by all and tears are considered selfish.  For unto us He granted awesome immortality.

RESERVED SACRAMENTAL are put aside in safekeeping, as these first end slice of the pascha bread and shell from the first egg shells cracked.  Along with the antidorian of special holydays, wax if received with the Jordan water and various blessed herbs, spices, flowers or plants are also kept as sacramental.  The blessed salt can be used year round especially medicinally as too the blessed save ointment. Honey is reserved for serving during the Holy Suppers.  The Paschal and Candlemass tapers are light during storms and many will keep their paschal flame burning in their icon corner lamp perpetually.

It is becoming relevant with expedient air travel for metropolitan communities to import the Paschal Holy Fire from the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem.  From here suburb parishes can ignite their own lamps and in turn give to their parishioners at the Resurrection Matins.

HOLY GARBAGE from the blessed food is also sanctified so the biodegradable refuge deserves respectful disposal.  The old elementary trinity of air, water and fire are seen most acceptable.  Burial is the most popular form allowing decomposition to return the refuge as compose blessing mother earth itself.  Committing the  biodegradable to rushing waters will nourish not only the unseen but has the additional advantage of heralding, especially the decorated eggshells this time of Pascha has arrived to those inhabiting downstream hamlets.  For this reason as after the blessing of waters laundry is inappropriate to wash during the entire Bright Week.  Fire is the least used but in tightly populated areas insinuating may be their only option.

Yet to be debated is if the use of organic running water while embracing the use of the kitchen garbage disposal.  Bottom line we should learn not to waste as all food is holy and the recycling of biodegradable refuge is ecologically worthy.

PACKING of what is taken speaks more of when a family immigrated than from where. There are as many reasons for what goes as there are baskets blessed.  Organically it was a simple breakfast picnic basket of a traveler.  Personal interpretation developed with availability and need.  In days of plenty very large baskets were needed to transport all the food that was to be blessed, for many their consumption during all of Bright Week was limited only to blessed foods.  Others opened every meal for the entire 8 day week of Pascha with at least an appetizer of blessed delicacies while others used their holy provisions as an ingredient in new dishes.  The breads were often as big as a wagon wheel so were separately wrapped. This often waned during European lean years as with the on slot of World War I.  Europe was left in shambles and products needed for this blessing where scarce. This hardship lasted through the interim period to WW II and beyond. Down sizing was in order. The pascha bread previously shrouded for transportation imitating the burial shroud of Christ carried to the tomb separately, was now often brought to church placed into the basket to take up space of missing products.  More recently an even smaller basket of precut foods resembling orderves is used by Soviet immigrants.  Under the atheistic Communism if authorities stopped the faithful carrying blessed food, they would simply say they were going on a picnic avoiding arrest.  This also brought this custom full circle.  As Ukrainian American ethnic folk researcher William Jula states “Even world events shaped the size and content of the Paschal basket”.

In many American parishes today one basket is packed with provisions for home while another contain precut finger foods are sharing immediately.  Many of our day are  without children, some due to them finding livelihoods elsewhere.  For so many their parish is their closest family.  Foods are comforting but loneliness can be heart breaking.

SERVING

A customary centerpiece is the molded cheese pascha surrounded by red (onionskin) eggs.  Next is a stack of babka bread slices into which a candle taper is inserted and light.  No mater what is or not used as a centerpiece a lighted candle is always present  burning throughout all the Easter meals reminding us the light of Christ is ever present, day or night.

The eggs slices are raided to be distributed first with the greeting “Khrystos Voskrece! / Christ is risen!”.  The salutation is answered with “Voistunu voskrece! / Truly risen! “follows.

On Easter Sunday all are is customarily served in cold-cut fashion as not work is deemed appropriate.  Some tables are laden from morning to night with a constant buffet kept.  Many wishing brews of tea or coffee will make it beforehand kept worm in thermos carafes so no reheating will defile the Sabbath of Sabbaths.  Some find biodegradable disposable dishes preferable to soaking crockery overnight.

RECIPE EVOLUTION

PASCHA (Easter) BREAD from the bread machine to the oven.

As Europe’s largest all inclusive country the foods for Pascha (Easter) in Ukraine vary not only from region but even family. Pascha is the holiest of days being the first of the new Sabbaths, so no work is acceptable. The only food staple across the land is not which foods  but how.  All foods are prepared ahead and served in an unheated fashion on the “Greatday”. The closest to an indispensable food item from the central European mountains crossing Ukraine through the steppes and from the marshes down to the Black Sea coast is a dairy enriched bread, called the same as the feast itself; “pascha / Pascha” (AKA “paska”). Although the ingredients may vary the indispensable part of the recipe is the fact that it can only be called pascha if shaped into a round loaf. If the pascha bread is to be taken by the church for the Paschal blessing it is likewise topped with a dough cross decoration, reminiscent of a large prosphora communion bun.

The decrease of the temperature in this recipe while baking reflects the old hearth oven method in which the oven cooled during the process. The optional dusting of the pans is a reminder of the Jewish burial preparations used for Jesus, as the raised bread itself is to symbolizes the risen Christ.  The cutting of the first blessed loaf is cut in accordance of the prescription for preparing the bread which is cut for communion hosts at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy (Mass).  Here is a 21st. century rendition of this ancestral Paschal staple.

2 lb loaf bread machine
2 or 3 round enameled pans or sauce pans 8 to 10 “ radius.
1 1/3 c milk
6 T butter
3 eggs
1/3 c sugar
1 3/4 t salt
5 1/2 c flour
2 t granulated dry yeast

Cut butter into pats, with milk microwave for 1 1/2 minutes
Lightly beat the eggs

In the 2 lb bread machine cylinder slowly spoon warmed butter and milk into beaten eggs so not to cook eggs.
Add sugar and salt. It is important to top mixture with the flour and finally sprinkling with the dried yeast on the very top.
Set machine for “dough” cycle. Let machine mix and rise. If machine has an “add” indicator, and you wish to embellish with a cup of white raisins do it when buzzer indicates.

When raising cycle is complete, take dough out of cylinder. On a floured board divide into three equal portions.
Spray pans with Pam, option: dust base with a pinch or two of ground spices as clove and or cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, black caraway or simply pumpkin spice.

Take section into hands and roll sides down and around up into bottom, rotating until a smooth dome forms on top. Place dome side up into pan, with fist push down center of dome to release air bubbles.
If being prepared for the Pascal blessing fill only 2 pans, taking third segment and cut into quarters. On flowered board roll each quarter into a rope the length of the pan’s radius and heights. Equally cris-cross 2 ropes over center of loaf. With scissors split each rope end up to 1” pass rim of pan. Spiral outward and up into a rosette, away from rope and rim making 8 rosettes. Repeat last two ropes on last loaf.
Cover pans with tea towel in a warm place until close to doubled in bulk. Preheat oven to 400o.

Take a sheet of aluminum foil 6” longer then pan’s circumference, try fold lengthwise dull side out.
Beat an egg yoke with a teaspoon of water.
When loaves have risen pierce straight down with a greased squire in 5 to 9 places to retard air pockets forming under crust splitting the top crust. Brush top with egg yoke for a shine.
Wrap foil collar around the rim of the pan forming a stove pipe rising from the outside of the rim to prevent scorching.
With your hand make a sign of the cross within the oven space.  In the old hearth ovens this was done not only to sanctify the space but to test the temperature.  If this action could not be completed the temperature was too hot and the dough would burn.
Space pans in oven on rack so there is even air circulation.
Bake for 10 minutes.  Then turn oven down to 350o for another 20 minutes.  Then open oven and pull rack forward, take off foil collars and rebrush with egg. Continue baking for another 15 minutes.

Retrieve from oven, shake pan up and down until loaf is released. Remove from pan, pat bottom, if sounds hollow place right side up on rack to cool. If not place back in oven for 5 to 10 minutes without pan to finish.  Cool, bag in plastic and refrigerate. Cut into half, place cut side down and cut into slices. If bread becomes dry toast and serve buttered.

History: brought from Vysova (Wysowa) Lemkivchyna turn XXc. by Olena nee Badarak (Dzula) Jula, passed onto her daughter Dorothy (Theodosia) Jula. Recipe measured and recorded by neighbor Karen nee Campbell Williams (Shaffer) ca. 1966. Recipe nearly mirrored the Traditional Easter Paska on page 332 in Savella Stechishin’s TRADITIONAL UKRAINIAN COOKERY 1957. Modified and transposed for bread machine by niece in law Marijka nee Borszcz Jula).

PS optional pascha recipe:
(using a bread machine, 1 ½ or 2 lb.)
in your bread machine insert, layer in this order
medium 1 1/2 lb.        or large 2 lb.
milk 1 cup             or 1 1/3 cups
butter 4 tablespoons         or 8 tablespoons
eggs 2                 or 3
sugar 6 tablespoons         or 1/3 cup
salt 1 1/2 teaspoons         or 1 3/4 teaspoons
white bread flour 4 cups     or 6 cups
dry yeast 1 1/2 teaspoons     or 2 teaspoons
set for dough only, NOT TO BE BAKED IN THE BREAD MACHINE

BABKA (Ukrainian soufflé style bread)
(similar to but not a  Russian kulich)
modified Ukrainian babka recipe for bread machine

1 1/3 c milk
11 T. butter mix and worm until tepid or put into microwave for 2 minutes.

Put the following six ingredients in the bread machine.
4 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
1 c sugar
1/3 t. salt
zest 2/3 lemon
2 t. vanilla
Add the milk and butter

Add in this order:
6 c. flour
Put yeast on top of flour
3 1⁄2 t. dry yeast

Set bread machine on dough cycle (2 hours)
Spray 1 lb. coffee cans with cooking spray and dust with plain bread crumbs.
Fill cans with dough to half full and let rise in warm place until dough rises to the top of the can.
Brush top gently with egg yolk beaten with 2 T. water.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes, lower temperature to 325 and bake 20 min.  Lower temp again to 275 for 15 min.

When done jerk can up and down until bread moves, slide out putting on a rack to cool.
Simple powered sugar icing made with lemon juice can be poured over the top dome allowing to drizzle down the sides.

Makes a good candle (taper) holder for your basket or table centerpiece.  Cut horizontally in circle slices, stack with the top piece acting as a lid to deep slices from drying too fast.

SAINT YURY’S (Lviv) CHEESE PASCHA
Customarily an Easter breakfast favorite that migrated westward across Ukraine to the seat of Ukrainian folk culture, Lviv. Customarily molded into a pyramid shape often presented as a centerpiece surrounded by russet blood stained eggs boiled with  dried onion skins for color. Like a church bell free the cylindrical babka bread sits next to this cheese holding a lighted taper candle. Symbolically the cheese represents the soul, the bread the body and red eggs the blood of Christ risen.

Combine:
1 egg
4 yokes
1⁄2 cup honey
1 cup sugar
1 cup spur cream
1⁄2 pound butter softened
2 pounds farmer’s cheese, (OR dry cottage cheese riced, OR ricotta cheese riced)

Blend at room temperature (or in mixer) until smooth.
Heat in saucepan constantly stirring until first bubble appears (do not allow to achieve boiling). Remove from heat.

Wisk in:
1 (.32 oz.) package of vanilla sugar, (OR 1 teaspoon vanilla).
1 cup finely chopped blanched almonds, (OR walnuts, OR pistachios). Roasting the nuts will enhance their flavor.
1 teaspoon zest of lemon, (OR orange, OR lime).

Wooden pyramid mold with draining holes, (OR flower pot with drain, OR cheese cloth bag).
Cheesecloth
Pam spray

Line mold with dampened cheesecloth, if using a plastic mold or pot or even metal sieve spray cheesecloth when lined with Pam.

Ladle ingredients into mold so cheesecloth does not bubble away from sides of mold. Reserve 1 cup of mixture for later. Place on bowl or deep plate to catch drainage and refrigerate at least 4 hours. After it cools, approximately an hour there will be a concaved well formed on top. Pour remaining cup of mixture into well/hole, empty drippings from bowl receptacle replace all to refrigerator.  If using just a cheese cloth bag pour into one end, twisting excess cloth and hang from over counter cupboard to drain over bowl. When solidified refrigerate.

Turn mold or pot upside-down on serving plate, set aside until cheese drops. OR remove from bag by skinning bag inside out. To store soak cheesecloth in milk and cover pascha to retard drying and hardening. Keep refrigerated. If your transport for the Pascal food blessing will not be timely you may wish to pack frozen.

Serve by ladling onto a slice of babka bread, pascha bread or pound cake. Spread, eat and enjoy.

YOUR CHOICE
Customs are not dictated they develop organically.  Pick and choose as you wish, but do celebrate the awesome feast of the resurrection of Christ.

SERMON OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (400 AD)
Translated into the vernacular.

If you, and all good people who love the Lord God,
Come and enjoy our banquet at this radiant celebration.
If you are a known for your honestly,
Come in and join us in the joy of God.
If you are weary from curbing your desirers,
Come partake of the joys you truly desire.
If you have tried from the beginning,
Come receive your just rewords.

If you came after the third hour,
Come and feast with thanksgiving.
If you arrived after the sixth do not dawdle.
Come for by no means will you be docked.
If you arrived after the ninth
Come, do not linger any longer.
If you came only at the eleventh hour,
Come, do not let your tardiness delay you.

The Master is graciously receiving all,
The last to arrive is as welcome as the first.
If you came only after the eleventh hour, relax.
Come, you are as welcomed as the first arrivals.
The Lord is as merciful to the late arrivals as with the early.
The late is received even more due to His kind benevolence.
The Master understands the laborer’s obligations,
He accepts the importance of their responsibilities.

The Lord’s joys are for all, the prompt and the tardy alike.
Those prosperous join hands with the empty handed.
The noble and the self important jointly honor this day.
Those who purged themselves join those who indulged.
The table is laden with a sumptuous fare for all to enjoy.
Those assembled now join so non be wanting for loving-kindness.
The banquet is a feast of faith for universal enjoyment.
Those partaking this abundance of righteousness await you.

Let no one cry poverty for His Kingdom embraces us all.
Let no one despair over mortal choices for He has forgiven all.
The fear of death is no longer threatening,
The Lord endured death clearing our way.
Death’s parching thirst has been quenched forever.
Death has been subdued by He who embraced it.
Hades’ Hell He descended deep into it’s dark endless depths,
Hades’ hunger He spoiled by His rejuvenating body and blood.

Isaiah prophesied as he cried out loud for all to hear;
Hades resents encountering You face to face in his cache.
His resentment we receive with mockery.
His resentment is now without target.
His resentment we are no longer feared.
His resentment is now without its power.
His resentment we now cast asunder.
His resentment is now chained fast.

Hell came face to face with the Lord God of all.
Receiving a mortal He experienced the immortal.
Hell embraced the familiar finding what he did not know.
Receiving earthly mortality Hell met Heavenly immortality.
Hell looked eye to eye upon what he saw,
He stumbled not accepting what he saw.
Hell where is your victory?
Death where is your sting?

Christ is risen overthrowing you stronghold.
Christ is risen casting down your demonic spirits.
Christ is risen as the angelic spirits rejoice.
Christ is risen as life now reigns liberated.
Christ is risen and there is no longer only demise in the tomb.
Christ is risen as the first fruit of those in death’s slumber.
To Him be all glory always now and forever.
To Him be dominion from age to age.  Amen (affirmation).

RESPONSE:

From your mouth grace emanated as a guiding light illuminating our universe.  Bestowing not gifts of greed upon the world but the blessings of supreme humility.  In your teachings through your words holy father John the Chrysostom (golden tongued), intercede with the Word +, with the Christ +, and with our God + for the salvation of our souls unto ages of ages.  Alleluia (Praise God).