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Christ is Risen - English/Slovanic

HRISTOS VOSKRESE RADOST DONESE

Byzantine Catholic Resurrection Matins

Preparing for Pascha

Marrying into the Byzantine Orthodox Church - and then later joining an Eastern Orthodox Church with Ukranian roots - changed the way I celebrate Easter forever, especially in regards to the food we prepare and eat.

Many of these foods are rich in milk, butter, cheese, eggs, and smoked meat, all foods given up in a traditional Lenten fast.

I learned these traditions and ways to prepare these foods forty years ago, so they would become the fabric of my six children's lives - and then they prepared them with me as they were growing up.

Now that half of them are workign or have worked in food service, they are more skilled in the kitchen than I am. So now I'm the one who assists them.

And someday, God willing, they will assist their children.

Rebekah squeezes out a ball of Easter cheese before she allows it to drip dry the rest of the way.

A quart of milk and a dozen eggs heats over a makeshift double boiler for another batch of Easter cheese.

A ball of Easter cheese drips dry.

Rebekah kneads a batch of Pascha or Easter bread. She made eleven loaves in all.

Rebekah cuts up butter for the Easter bread.

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Rebekah braids bread dough for the Pascha.

Rebekah adds braids to the Pascha.

A batch of Pascha that we didn't braid cools on racks.

In thet meantime, Timothy made homemade ricotta and pierogies.

This is the potato filling Timothy made for his pierogies,

Timothy shows me how his pictures of pierogies are better than mine.

Rebekah's ham comes out of the oven.

Timothy cooked the sausages.

The sausages are now cooling.

And, of course, Bertrand joined in.

Did you find Bertrand in this pictcure?

Rebekah also made three kinds of candy. We posted the recipe for chocolate truffles on the BryonySeries Sue's Diner page yesterday.

She also bought Easter candy on sale and made individual bags for all of us, including the grandchildren.

Because everyone's work and homework schedules didn't line up, we didn't have the backyard gathering at Joshua's house we had originally planned.

But a spoiling of plans cannot dampen the joy of the resurrection or cut the common thread of tradition that runs through all of us.

We all partook of the same food and rejoiced, even if that partaking and rejoicing didn't happen in the same physical space.

"Bright" Morning Reflection

Easter Week in the Orthodox Church is called Bright Week.

And the "brightest" day of that week is Monday today.

When the kids were young, Bright Week was a vacation week for them (and me). As homeschoolers, we took the week off and just enjoyed the week.

I recall one Bright Monday where I spent most of the day reading in bed and nursing the baby (Daniel), surfacing long enough to grab some Easter food from the refrigerator.

We typically made enough Easter food to last several days. After all the work of preparing it and the time spent in extra services, we enjoyed the non-work of the resurrection.

Today, we are all at work, "bright" and early.

Today, we are no longer a homeschooling family, and we don't have the luxury of lounging for an entire week, much less a day

But "lounging" was never the point. It was to show the kids, in a tangible way, the "rest" of eternal life.

Although I'm not gonna lie. Lounging in bed reading was a wonderful way to pass a day.

Memoirs and More

For the past year, I've been meeting nearly weekly with a Joliet woman just a few years shy of 100.

One of her granddaughters had approached me and asked if I would write this woman's memoirs. I almost turned it down. At the time, some tests had suggested some health concerns, I was learning a new system of page design, and I was trying to finish the last book of Before the Blood.

But as it turned out, I'd written two Herald=News stories about her in the past and, ironically, my oldest daughter is a former neighbor (I discovered that after the first story broke). And the granddaughter told me the woman herself had specifically asked for me.

So part of my first official vacation time of 2019 was spent organizing notes and working on her memoir. She's had some health issues this year, so I'm feeling an especial sense of urgency in getting it done.

Many parts of her life are heartbreaking, but through all the stories she's shared, one can see a line of strength, tenacity, and firm faith in God running through it. I'm so very glad I did not turn this project down!

As always, I've overestimated what I could accomplish. But the book is organized and divided into chapters and I'm about halfway through the first draft. I spoke with her on Sunday, and we wrote the introduction and "final thoughts." She, on her part, is gathering photos for the interior and the cover. We also discussed titles.

Considering I've also attended three nights of long church services at a church about forty-five minutes from home, spent most of a day at my son's celebrating Easter (Pascha) and two grandchildren's birthdays with my other children (and children-to-be) and grandchildren, and had to get two medical tests done for myself, I think I, overall, did pretty good.

Speaking of memoirs, I spent an hour or so on the phone with my uncle. We've gotten rather close over these past two years while addressing my father's health concerns. During this course, he also learned his wife had cancer of pancreas, and she passed early Thursday morning.

He called me on Friday afternoon and shared the mostly lovely stories about this unselfish woman, a teacher, who always saw the good in others, even the most difficult of her students. I learned how she lived and how she died.

Although I didn't help with the Easter cooking this year, I did make two trips to the grocery store with one of my sons, and we talked about some of the opportunities that's cropped up in his life.

And on a fiction note, the fourth installment of Before the Blood has my editor's notes incorporated. It's formatted, and I've checked the formatting, done a copy edit, and it's ready for upload just as soon as Rebekah is able to finish attaching all the cover pieces.

Once it KDP approves it, I'll order a proof, recheck the formatting, and do a final copy edit.

I've also uploaded all the photos and videos I took during the fun (including the elaborate egg hunt Rebekah coordinated) with family members on our "secret" Facebook page, watched some Bojack with Daniel, had some great conversations with Rebekah, and just, overall, engaged in more human interaction and less social media interaction.

I'm now back to the regular routine: refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to write features!

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 1 through April 13

Did I enjoy my time off? I did!

Of course, getting there was challenging. Two days needed to be swapped, and I spent most of Holy Saturday working and not cooking (but fortunately Joshua, Timothy, Rebekah, and Daniel were willing and able to pitch in).

Mostly I attended services, celebrated Easter with my family, and squeezed in a bit of fiction writing here and there. I returned to work refreshed and (hardly) stressed about fitting fives days-ish worth of work into three.

And look! The weekend is upon us!

Have a great Friday readers, writers, and vampire fans! :)

Non-bylined features:

Monday through Saturday I assembled my non-bylined works - brief posts and calendar listings - into one convenient file and posting them on Facebook in the evening, so readers can easily choose the ones they want to read.

 One can also find those event listings, the Gotta Do It calendar, as well as the pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars, under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down.  Gotta Do It runs under "people."

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web (and some only on web on other days as I have the time): Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

Social media:

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I post curated content relating to the BryonySeries at @BryonySeries. And assorted related content at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to jon WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.com.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.

'One of the best human beings I've ever met'

Dick Goss celebrates 35 years as Herald-News sports editor

“It’s been nothing but a pleasure to work with Dick Goss,” said Joe Hosey, managing editor of The Herald-News. “Not only does he know all there is to know about sports in Joliet and beyond, he’s one of the kindest men I’ve ever met.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/01/7833dda3fbc74a7ea542868b97bf4021/index.xml

Plainfield Township residents keep Easter egg hunt tradition going

This year, the childless couple spent about $500 to give 60 kids a happy Easter experience.

How? Why? Keep reading...

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/28/0c53a936ec584358ba83f73989ece589/index.xml

An Extraordinary Life: Joliet veterinarian was a '24/7 guy'

"Dad made practice fun," Wayne Ingmire of Kansas, retired veterinarian, said. "He had a great ability to interact with the clients and he had a sense of humor. He'd be giving an IV to a cow and telling a joke."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/01/bb6126d60b0e4b5ca275613c7fcc07a5/index.xml

Mystery Diner: Joliet's 99 Hops House has good burgers, plenty of beers

It's well lit, there's plenty of room along the expansive bar and .... they have a lot of beer options.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/02/87fb006dc5f04ddf9655beb302f61131/index.xml


Eastern Orthodox churches prepare for Easter 

Our liturgical cycle is fixed. We don’t have a three-year cycle or committees that plan the services. Nothing wavers. Nothing changes. It’s always the same, like God.

The only change is our perception as we move through the liturgical year.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/04/03/eastern-orthodox-churches-prepare-for-easter/av7jyep/

Only a blurry photo remains

Handmade heirloom lost in move

That cloth adorned our Easter basket that year: 1991. Then it was carefully folded and put away until the following year. It had one job: to drape over the top of our Easter basket full of food while it awaited the blessing.

That’s it. And we used that cloth every year.

Until 2014.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/04/03/only-a-blurry-photo-remains/al6a9sy/

Eastern Easter treats

Recipes tend to be heavy in foods forsaken during Lent

Three noteworthy items, two being traditional and one being traditional for us, are pascha (Easter bread), hrudka (Easter cheese) and pirohi (more commonly known as pierogies).

Here is the way we make ours. Since the Easter season lasts 40 days, trying one or more of these recipes during this time is perfectly fine and extends the spirit of joy that accompanies the resurrection.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/08/0946529a053d4a32a8267bf2a0644dbb/index.xml

Joliet man ‘was a good soul’

Anand Maraj brought home books and taught Debra to read, simple words at first and then more complicated words and stories.

“There is not a day that goes by that I don’t read,” Debra said. “I’ve learned a lot from reading. And it’s all because of him.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/04/07/joliet-man-was-a-good-soul/a63pm5e/

Cat daddy offers purr-fect advice for feline care

Joliet theater to host Animal Planet personality

Cat Mojo philosophy is not much different than human mojo. When you find the thing you were put on this planet to do you exhibit… mojo, a natural swagger and confidence.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/04/e44640d17f5a45dd81fd1ac238621f6e/index.xml

2-Fer's Pizza & Pub in Minooka: Where pizza is buy one, get one free

One day when I was passing through Minooka, I asked a friend to join me at 2-Fers. Karaoke wasn't part of the plan, but white pizza and good conversation was.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/07/b5f237c49ba54a6285a86b8cbb11318f/index.xml

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff or @MattCoundiff on Twitter.

Goodbye Old Cloth

All I have left of nine months of painstaking work when I had a baby and three rebellious homeschooled youngsters is this out of focus photo.

What is it?

It's an Easter basket cover.

When I married into the Eastern Christian church, I experienced a whole new set of rich Easter traditions and foods. After weeks of strict Lenten fasting, a variety of certain foods (with special recipes to accompany them) were prepared on Holy Saturday, gathered into a decorated basket, and brought to church at midnight (along with a white candle) for resurrection services, to be blessed after services.

Draped over many of these baskets were hand-embroidered cloths. Some of these were very old, family heirlooms.

I wanted to make such a cloth.

Because I suffered from severe all-day sickness with my pregnancies, my sister taught me to crosstitch to pass the time. I made one item for the house and many gifts. But with each passing Easter, what I really wanted to make was this cloth. However, the work and time required to effect it was complicated and beyond my abilities.

After my fourth child was born, I decided the cloth wasn't going to make itself. It took nine months, but I finished it by Holy Week and brought it to a local seamstress to hem. I got it back on Holy Saturday 1991, the eleventh hour, so to speak.

It's gone. We lost it in the move.

The loss bites.

This year marked the third year of no cloth.

Year one we were at my mother's and figured it was packed somewere.

Year two, we had gone through every box, and it was nowhere.

Year three, well, what can I say?

Yes, I know the celebration is more important than textile and colorful thread. But a lot of love for meaning behind the "Christ is Risen!" and for my family, for whom I intended this to be a keepsake, went into every stitch.

It will be hard to replace.

Easter Homily by St. John Chrysostom

Easter Homily

By St. John Chrysostom

Archbishop of Constantinople

349 – 407

Let all pious men and all lovers of God rejoice in the splendor of this feast; let the wise servants blissfully enter into the joy of their Lord; let those who have borne the burden of Lent now receive their pay, and those who have toiled since the first hour, let them now receive their due reward; let any who came after the third hour be grateful to join in the feast, and those who may have come after the sixth, let them not be afraid of being too late; for the Lord is gracious and He receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him who comes on the eleventh hour as well as to him who has toiled since the first: yes, He has pity on the last and He serves the first; He rewards the one and praises the effort.

Come you all: enter into the joy of your Lord. You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward; you rich and you poor, dance together; you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day; you who have kept the fast and you who have not, rejoice today. The table is richly loaded: enjoy its royal banquet. The calf is a fatted one: let no one go away hungry. All of you enjoy the banquet of faith; all of you receive the riches of his goodness. Let no one grieve over his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed; let no one weep over his sins, for pardon has shone from the grave; let no one fear death, for the death of our Saviour has set us free: He has destroyed it by enduring it, He has despoiled Hades by going down into its kingdom, He has angered it by allowing it to taste of his flesh.

When Isaias foresaw all this, he cried out: "O Hades, you have been angered by encountering Him in the nether world." Hades is angered because frustrated, it is angered because it has been mocked, it is angered because it has been destroyed, it is angered because it has been reduced to naught, it is angered because it is now captive. It seized a body, and, lo! it encountered heaven; it seized the visible, and was overcome by the invisible.

O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen and you are abolished. Christ is risen and the demons are cast down. Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen and life is freed. Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead: for Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep. To Him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

Thy Resurrection O Christ our Saviour

Христос воскрес! - Christ is risen! - Ukrainian Orthodox chant / for Easter