On Great and Holy Paschal, there is a longstanding tradition of blessing Paschal foods which are often brought in baskets.

Le Christ est Ressucite!

On Great and Holy Paschal, there is a longstanding tradition of blessing Paschal foods which are often brought in baskets. This food is carefully prepared and includes a rich tasting sweet bread (kulich or pascha); a bitter herb (horseradish); sweet wine; cheeses (hurtka & sirniya pascha), meats (ham, veal, sausage, & bacon), butter, salt, and red eggs. Each food item has a rich, deep, symbolic significance – as does everything in the Orthodox Faith. Thus, maintaining our sacred traditions that have been passed down for millennia is what often separates us from other Christian denominations.

Here are some of the meanings attributed to these special foods:

Sweet bread is always included, leavened with yeast. This is a symbol of the New Covenant; the Jews made unleavened bread, and we, the Children of the New Covenant, make leavened bread. Kulich is the traditional Russian bread, and Tsourekia is the traditional Greek braided bread. The braided form of this bread is a display of the Trinity.

The bitter herb, often horseradish or garlic, serves as a reminder of the first Passover (horseradish is eaten as a traditional part of the original Passover meal) and of the bitter sufferings which Christ endured for our sake. Sometimes the herb is colored red with beets, symbolizing the Blood of Christ. Bitter herbs also symbolize the Jews’ forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

Wine, cheese, and butter are figurative of all the good things of life and remind us of the earthly gifts that come from God.

Meat is included in remembrance of the sacrifice of the Old Testament Passover, which has been replaced by Christ, the New Passover and Lamb of God.

Salt serves as a reminder to us that we are "the salt of the earth."

The red egg is an age-old symbol of the Resurrection, likened to the tomb from which Christ arose. Just as the miracle of new life comes from the egg, so does Christ miraculously come forth from the tomb.

Fr. John