Priest explains whether it is necessary to attend church and bless food on Easter

On the eve of Easter, many Ukrainians ponder whether it is necessary to sanctify the Easter basket. Metropolitan of Pereyaslavl and Vyshnevsky Oleksandr Drabynko emphasized that this ritual is more related to national heritage than church tradition.

“On Easter, we bring to the temple the dishes we will serve on the festive table: Easter cakes, cheese, eggs, sausage. However, consecrating the Easter basket is not a strict necessity. This is a Ukrainian tradition that not all Orthodox countries observe,” the metropolitan noted.

He also shared memories of his childhood: in his family, when it was not possible to visit the church, my grandfather would independently consecrate the dishes at home, read prayers, and sprinkle the table with holy water.

Oleksandr Drabynko emphasized that Great Lent continues until the end of the Easter service; therefore, consuming Easter cakes and other products from the basket during this period violates church norms and is considered a sin.

“Breaking the fast occurs on Holy Sunday itself when we begin to eat the food we abstained from during Lent,” the metropolitan added.

Therefore, blessing the Easter basket remains a personal choice of the believer and not a mandatory requirement. If it is impossible to visit the temple, holding a joint prayer at home and blessing the dishes yourself is permissible.