Palm Sunday in Ukraine

A very interesting day of the year to visit Ukraine would be Palm Sunday. On this day you would see many Ukrainian Orthodox carrying pussy willows on Palm Sunday to the Orthodox church in order to have their branches blessed by the priest. Why the pussy willow? Palm trees do not grow as far north as Ukraine, so the pussy willow is used as the official replacement to symbolize the palm branches used during Christ's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. Once their branches have been blessed, the people will sometimes save them in their homes as a part of their religious "icon corner" (where you would also find pictures of Jesus and various saints). However, it is interesting to note that most people who do this are the "three-times-a-year" religious people... in other words, those who attend church on Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Sunday only.

UKRAINIAN LADIES SELLING PUSSY WILLOWS NEXT TO THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

We are often asked by young believers in our church why we do not follow this practice. After all, they have been reared in a society where this religious practice is very normal and something that all of their friends and relatives do. So, why does our church not follow suit? We explain that we are mindful of Christ's death and resurrection EVERY Sunday, and that we live a victorious life DAILY because of what Christ has done for us through His death and resurrection. But, we do not carry on with the "buying and blessing," since this aspect is not found in Scriptures.

SINCE MOST UKRAINIANS DO NOT HAVE CARS, IT IS NORMAL TO LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW AND SEE PEOPLE WALKING TO THE NEAREST ORTHODOX CHURCH WITH THEIR PUSSY WILLOWS ON PALM SUNDAY
ORTHODOX WOMEN PRAYING AND CROSSING THEMSELVES

From the beautiful land of Ukraine, we wish all of you a Happy Easter! Let's take time to reminisce and celebrate what our Jesus did for us on the cross and through His resurrection! We serve a LIVING, RESURRECTED SAVIOR!

To see pictures of the empty tomb, click here!