In Chicago, St. Joseph the Betrothed parish hosted a traditional family celebration called Easter Groves, organized at the initiative of the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky School of Ukrainian Studies. The event was attended by students, parents, parishioners and creative teams of the parish.
This was report by "Surma" with reference to Maria Mykhalevych, a teacher at the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky School of Ukrainian Studies in the parish of St. Joseph the Betrothed.
Despite rainy weather that prevented the event from taking place in the churchyard, the celebration was moved to the church hall, which was transformed into a spring lawn filled with embroidered shirts and Easter paraphernalia.
Haiyvky have long been an integral part of Ukrainian Easter celebrations, with games, dances, and songs around the church bringing together parishioners of all ages. This year in Chicago, Easter Haiyvky became a true family event. The celebration began with a blessing by Fr. Andriy Delisandre and a performance by the church choir of the song "Christ is Risen. Then students of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Ukrainian Studies School, under the direction of music teachers Olga Dopilko and Bohdana Chepil, performed hayivky and ritual games.
Each class also prepared an Easter basket, which was decorated and filled with symbolic foods that added to the festive atmosphere. Mykola Stefurak (cymbals), Yulia Zakharko (violin) and Maksym Barylyak (saxophone) provided musical accompaniment for the event.
"This year's Hayivky was accompanied by a live orchestra, which added a special solemnity and high spirits to the holiday. The atmosphere was a real gift - even in spite of the rain. Each class of the School of Ukrainian Studies prepared and presented its own Easter basket, which was a great opportunity for the children to show their creativity.
The host of the event, Tetyana Barylyak (BARVA), energetically invited everyone to join in the dances and ritual games. The holiday atmosphere united children, parents and guests in a common circle of love for Ukrainian traditions. The festive program was highlighted by the appearance of girls from the StarKids modeling school of Kateryna Grod in ethnic costumes from the collection of Roksolana Prokopiv.
As a souvenir of the event, everyone had the opportunity to take pictures in a specially designed photo zone, arranged by photographer Tatiana Drozhzhyna. The celebration culminated in a large family circle where adults and children sang the song "Mama's Shirt" together.
"A particularly touching moment was the joint performance of the song "Mother's Shirt," which united all Ukrainian families in one circle. And there were no strangers in that circle. Only our own. One Nation, One Faith, One Prayer", Revived Soldiers Ukraine, in the parish.
The organizers of the "Easter Groves" were Tetiana Baryliak (BARVA) and Olga Dopilko, director of the vocal studio "Oberih", with the support of the director of the Ukrainian Studies School, Mrs. Nina Danyliuk, and the entire parish.
"We pray to the Risen Christ to bless our homeland with peace. For our land should blossom and sprout with rye, laugh and sing with the lips of children, and not tremble before deadly explosions and sirens. Hear our prayers, O Lord," said schoolteacher Maria Mikhalevich.
Prepared by: Inna Mikhno