Orthodox Church of Ukraine holds first Easter service in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

From 06:00, believers came to the church for the consecration of Easter bread and eggs. Prayers for Ukrainian defenders in Ukrainian were also held in the cathedral.

In his video message, Archimandrite Avraamiy, the vicar of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, wished Ukrainians strength to overcome temptations and evil.

"Evil still has temporary power and seeks to rule over people, but thanks to the Resurrection of Christ, each of us has the opportunity to choose personally whether to succumb to the temptations of evil, to believe the evil one, to be tempted, or to go through Calvary with the Son of God to victory in the resurrection. Christ calls on each of us to take up our cross and follow him," he said.

The Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and the Refectory Church returned to the state from the use of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in January 2023.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine had already held a Christmas service in the Holy Dormition Cathedral.