Maketank is hosting a community celebration of Ukrainian Orthodox Easter on Sunday 16 April.
The gathering will welcome new arrivals from Ukraine to Exeter and Devon and is open to the wider community.
The afternoon includes traditional Pysanky egg decoration, an egg hunt, art and craft activities, a potluck lunch and Vesnyanka, a traditional Ukrainian song.
Maketank director Olya Petrakova and Ukrainian volunteers co-ordinate Exeter’s Conversation Café, a city centre support hub which provides information, resources, events and meeting space for people directly affected by the Ukraine crisis as well as those who wish to help them.
It was created in the first few weeks of the Russian invasion to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine and support those fleeing to find new homes in the south west of England.
Ukrainian Pysanky by Luba Petrusha licensed under Creative Commons
Ukrainians celebrate Orthodox Easter on a date based on the Julian calendar. It varies from the date of Western Christian Easter which is based on the Gregorian calendar.
Both begin with a period of Lent and culminate in an Easter Sunday celebration, observing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Pysanky egg decoration is widely practised across Ukraine as part of Easter celebrations. The technique, which involves a wax-resist dyeing method, is thought to have pagan roots.
It was absorbed into Christianity and is one origin of the now widely traditional Easter egg.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Easter celebration is from 1-3pm on Sunday 16 April 2023 at Maketank.
Participants are invited to wear colourful clothing and bring along food and/or soft drinks to share.
Dishes could include salad, freshly baked bread, vegetable or meat based recipes and cake, such as Ukrainian Paska.
RSVP via the Maketank website.
The event follows a Ukrainian Orthodox Easter service at Exeter Cathedral which begins at 11.30am.
