| People in Ukraine observed their fourth Easter since the Russian invasion of their nation. Oleksandra Kovalenko, a member of the Ukrainian delegation at the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, and Valentyn Hrebennyk, a graduate of the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey shares their Easter experience and encourages the WCC fellowship to continue praying for people of Ukraine. |
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 | | During the Easter celebrations, parishioners gather in front the of Saint Yaroslav the Wise church in Kyiv (a part of the National Reserve "Sophia of Kyiv") to receive the blessing for the Easter bread paska. Photo: Courtesy of Oleksandra Kovalenko |
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Oleksandra Kovalenko, a member of the Ukrainian delegation at the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022, described how, traditionally, Easter is one of the most important holidays in Ukraine, with not only religious but also deep cultural meaning. “Even nonbelievers usually prepare for the celebration by making traditional Easter bread, making paska, and decorating the eggs,” she said. Over the last few years, the usual timeline of the church celebration has shifted: there is no possibility of celebrating the Easter liturgy at midnight, due to a curfew, so the service is held at dawn. |
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 | | Oleksandra Kovalenko, a member of the Ukrainian delegation at the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022. Photo: Courtesy of Oleksandra Kovalenko |
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Pain and joy “I've been reflecting a lot on the past three years, and how emotions on this day have changed with time, as it is already our fourth Easter during the full-scale war, from the total confusion and disbelief of the first year, to sadness and hope of the second, gradual acceptance of the reality on the third one, and now—pain and tiredness that is intertwined with quiet Easter joy and gratitude,” she said. Many Ukrainians have lost their loved ones because of the war. “In just a few last weeks, several dozen civilians were killed as a result of the Russian missile and drone attacks—young and old, men, women, and children,” said Kovalenko. “We see suffering and destruction of lives daily, and no place feels safe enough to escape this reality.” She added that she hopes the World Council of Churches (WCC) prays for the just and lasting peace for Ukraine, for the healing and comforting of everyone suffering from the loss of their loved ones, for the ones who are injured and hurt, for those in captivity, for children who were forcefully taken away from their homes and their families to Russian orphanages, that they will return home. “For everyone struggling, hurting, and in disbelief,” said Kovalenko. “Please, pray for us, stay with us, and help those you can help in your own place. It is really important to know that we are not alone in this battle.” Valentyn Hrebennyk, a graduate of the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, and currently a presbyter at the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, spent Easter day in prayers, providing the special Orthodox services during Holy Week like matins, vespers, and liturgies. “Prayers, gospel readings, reflections with the parishioners—all of that helps to concentrate the mind around the story of Christ’s passion and future Resurrection that is so relevant for Ukrainians today, when every night Russian drones fly above our roofs seeking new victims.” |
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 | | Valentyn Hrebennyk, presbyter at the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and graduate of the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey. Photo: Courtesy of Valentyn Hrebennyk |
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After the Russian invasion, Hrebennyk describes living in the new reality that has a routine: Russian missile or drone strikes, sirens, shelters, and funerals of the defenders of Ukraine. “And, of course, on the fourth year of war our parishioners need much more empathy and support from their priests than even before,” he said. “During the atheistic communist times, between Ukrainian believers, one phrase was very popular: ‘Christ is Risen – Ukraine will rise.’ ” That is why Easter’s message of joy and Christ’s light that came after a period of suffering and darkness is very important for faithful Ukrainians, Hrebennyk said. “It gives us hope and courage to keep our fight with the sin and the invaders,” he said. Hrebennyk also had some serious practical concerns during Holy Week—concerns about the safety of the people. "On Palm Sunday, Russians hit the city-center of Sumy using two ballistic missiles,” he said. “They killed 35 civilians, among them two children, and wounded 117, among them 15 children.” Some of the victims were people who were coming back from the church service. “Therefore, before Easter service I had to be sure that our shelter under the church could hide much more people than usual if there was an air raid alert,” he said. “But, luckily, it was not necessary.” |
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 | | Easter service at the Church of the Assembly of Kyiv Saints, Kyiv, Ukraine, 20 April 2025. Photo: Courtesy of Valentyn Hrebennyk |
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More unity Hrebennyk believes people should be united in faith, values, and commitment—more than ever before. “This year all of us celebrated Easter together,” he said. “So, let’s not only celebrate, but work hard together.” He believes that Christians should not be indifferent, and should not tolerate evil and crimes. “We neglected the prophetical voice of the churches. So, let’s find the courage of the ancient Christian martyrs! Let’s clearly name the evil as evil, the sin as sin, and the crime as crime.” Hrebennyk asked the World Council of Churches to pray for the end of the war, and to pray for just peace for Ukraine. “You can pray for Ukrainian defenders, those who spent Easter in trenches on the frontlines, protecting our country, our people, and our Ukrainian identity from destruction,” he said. “You can pray for Ukrainian prisoners of war, for Ukrainians who are under Russian occupation—all those who are suffering and suffered Russian tortures as it was in Bucha, Irpin, Izum, as it is in the occupied territories now.” Hrebennyk also asks people to pray for Ukrainian children who were forcibly deported to Russia and for their return to their Ukrainian parents. “You can pray for our civilians, who are trying to live normal lives under the threat of missile strikes,” he said. “You can pray for Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced people who lost their homes and are trying to find their place in the new environment.” He also noted that prayers are needed for Ukrainian ecology, as thousands of mines have caused great damage. “There are plenty of topics to pray for,” Hrebennyk said. “But again we need not only your prayers, but your deeds and your voices united in the ecumenical demand of justice and peace.” Easter on the frontlines in Ukraine: “Resurrection is our hope” (WCC interview with Rev. Anatoliy Raychynets, 28 April 2025) |
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