CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

And unto us hath He granted life eternal; we worship His Resurrection on the third day.

We are here, Great and Holy Pascha! It is a time of joy and celebration!Today is Monday, but during this week after Pascha, we call Bright Week, we are continuing to celebrate the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Though it is a week, it is for us one continuous day. There are many blessed customs during Bright Week. We gather each morning, partaking of the blessed Pascha foods we took home from Church. We even say different morning and evening prayers during this time (See here Prayer Rule for Bright Week).

Here are some great pictures:

Pascha Cheese, known as Tvorog. Made with Farmers Cheese, Sugar and Heavy Cream. It is molded and the whey strained. This one I made (each year I do it) is probably a foot tall. It's super yummy!

Those gathered for the Pascha Divine Liturgy. It is packed at the Monastery each year. It is a great blessing to have been able to be at a Monastery for Pascha these past three years. CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

 The boys and I (taken around midnight or 12:30am) at the Church. 

 

Our Pascha basket: Hrin/Beets and Horseradish (purple stuff), Red Eggs (dyed with onion skins), Meatstick (Lamb and Buffalo mix, wrapped in Bacon), Pascha Bread (it has Raisins), Pascha Cheese (the white stuff on the left), and Hrudka/Egg Cheese (essentially a "dry" slightly sweet egg custard kinda of dish).

Another shot of our Pascha basket, but with the candle in it. Someone graciously gave us one because we didn't have one.

 A shot of the Monastery at 5:30am.

 Another shot at 5:30am

 Fuller shot of the monastery at Sunrise.

We are so blessed and full of Joy. We are all doing well. From us to all of you guys: Have a blessed and joyous Pascha and Bright Week! Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

The Baldwins