Easter In Russia

Easter in Russia is celebrated a little more different than it is in the States.  The celebration begins on Palm Sunday of course just like it does in the States but it isn't called Palm Sunday because there are no palm trees here.  On this day you will find people on the street selling verbena branches.  The branches have little white buds on them.  We serve with the Baptist Union here and we did have a special service last Sunday commemorating the triumphal entry.

Later in the week you will find street vendors selling the above cake.  I have asked many Russians what these cakes mean but no one ever gives me a straight answer.  In Novosibirsk I was told that they represent the domes on the Russian Orthodox churches.  Our language teacher here in Samara told us that they are a representation of the body of Christ such as in the bread of the Last Supper and that we eat it to remember Christ's sacrifice.

People do color eggs here.  There aren't fancy kits like the ones we have back home.  Most families will decorate them on Saturday to pass out on Sunday.  The eggs our family colors are always so different because I am usually able to get someone to buy a kit for us and send it here.  This year Jon bought a kit while he was at the conference.  The other thing is that a lot of eggs here are brown but if you get to the store earlier in the week you can find white ones.

On Sunday once you enter church everyone greets you with "Xreestos Voskres" and you reply "Voeesteenu Voskres".  Of course in the States one would say "He is Risen" and the other one would reply "He has Risen Indeed". The babushkas give the kids a lot of candy.  The kids pass out their colored eggs.  Everyone is so joyful and there are a lot of people at church that normally don't come on a regular basis.  There is a lot of poetry read, special music and of course a message on the Resurrection of our Savior.  Resurrection Sunday is really my favorite holiday to celebrate here in Russia even more than Christmas.