Pascha 2026 at St. Michael Parish - Christ is Risen! | St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church

On the night of April 11 into the morning of April 12, 2026, the faithful of St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church gathered for the greatest celebration of the Christian year — the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The church was filled to capacity as parishioners, family, and visitors from across the Tampa Bay area joined in the joyful proclamation: Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

The Paschal Liturgy

Father Stephen Siniari led the Paschal Liturgy in our traditional bilingual format, with Scripture and prayers proclaimed in both Ukrainian and English. The Resurrection Gospel was read in multiple languages, recalling the universal joy of the Risen Lord.

The Royal Doors of the iconostasis remained open throughout the service, a powerful symbol of the open tomb of Christ. The faithful sang the Paschal hymns — "Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life" — with a fervor that filled the entire church.

The Blessing of Easter Baskets

Following the Liturgy, parishioners gathered outside under the warm Florida sun for the traditional blessing of Paschal baskets (sviachene / свячене). This beloved Ukrainian custom transforms the breaking of the Lenten fast into a sacred moment of community thanksgiving.

Baskets were lovingly prepared with the symbolic foods of Pascha: paska bread, krashanky and pysanky (decorated eggs), butter shaped into a lamb, kovbasa (sausage), salt, horseradish, and beeswax candles. Each basket was covered with a beautifully embroidered cloth (rushnyk) passed down through generations of Ukrainian families.

A Living Ukrainian Tradition

Many parishioners wore traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka (embroidered shirts and dresses), each pattern unique to a family or region of Ukraine. For our parish, founded by Ukrainian immigrants and carrying that heritage into a new generation in Florida, Pascha is more than a religious holiday — it is the heartbeat of our cultural identity.

We continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, and Pascha brings particular comfort: the Resurrection has overcome darkness, and Christ's victory over death is the source of hope for all who suffer.

The Voice of the Church

Our parish choir led the congregation through the Paschal hymns. The traditional Ukrainian chant fills our small church with the sound of generations of unbroken praise. From the joyful "Khrystos Voskres!" to the solemn "Angel spovishaje Blagodatnij" sung to the Theotokos, music gave voice to the faith of every generation present.

You Are Always Welcome

Whether you are Orthodox, exploring the Orthodox faith, of Ukrainian heritage, or simply curious about our community, you are always welcome at St. Michael Parish. We celebrate the Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 10:00 AM in both Ukrainian and English.

The Paschal joy continues for fifty days, until Pentecost. During this season we sing "Christ is Risen!" in place of our usual greetings. Come visit us during this most joyful time of the church year.