Easter 2024, Exeter Cathedral. Photo Credit: Angelina Romaniuk.

Devon's Ukrainian Community Celebrates the Orthodox Easter

The Devon Ukrainian Association invites the wider community to attend its Orthodox Easter Services on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th April 2025, from 2pm-4pm at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Mount Dinham, Exeter, EX4 4EB.

The Easter weekend will include two special services:

Saturday 19 April – Divine Liturgy, a joyful and sacred celebration of the Resurrection
Sunday 20 April – Evensong, a reflective evening prayer service marking the close of Easter day

The services will be celebrated by Father Achilles, a clergyman of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, under the leadership of Metropolitan Epiphanius. Since his arrival in our community in March this year, Father Achilles has brought a deeply rooted spiritual presence.

The services will be conducted primarily in Ukrainian and Old Church Slavonic, and will include the traditional blessing of Easter baskets—filled with festive foods such as Easter bread paska, decorated eggs krashanky or pysanky, and more

Saturday’s Divine Liturgy will include a contribution from Revd. Brandon, who will lead part of the service in English, offering a bridge of welcome and understanding for the wider community attending. Reverend Professor Brandon Gallaher is an Orthodox Christian priest and serves as the Orthodox Christian Chaplain in the Multifaith Chaplaincy at the University of Exeter.

After each service, all are invited to stay for tea, traditional Easter treats, and a warm gathering to share Ukrainian customs and fellowship.

“These services are a sacred celebration of light, love, and resilience,” says Olya Petrakova, Executive Co-director of the Devon Ukrainian Association. “We open our hearts and doors to all who wish to honour Easter with us—whether as participants or supporters of our community.”

All are welcome.

Event Details: