Ukrainians mark Easter as the threat of chaos and invasion cloud the future

2014/4/20 22:56:32

In spite of continued unrest in some parts of Ukraine, millions of Ukrainian attended Easter services with their families.

 


KYIV, April 20, 2014 (UBO) – Although some parts of the country remain deeply troubled by the internal strife and a possible invasion as Russian forces continue to pressure Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians attended traditional Easter services at tens of thousands of churches in every province in the country.

 

Easter 2014 was different from any in modern Ukrainian history with a violent incident near Slovyansk adding to the widespread feelings of unease in most parts of the country. A confrontation between pro-Russian and what were claimed to be Ukrainian nationalist forces left a reported four dead, three of them pro-Russian and one from the alleged nationalists. The event led to suspicions that it was staged as a provocation in order to justify another Russian military incursion, much like the one that occurred in Crimea just a few weeks ago. [For more on the Slovyansk incident, link below:

http://news.yahoo.com/gunbattle-easte ... kills-four-062959391.html ]

 

Away from the main trouble spots, Easter services proceeded as they have for hundreds of years with priests blessing families who traditionally arrive for Easter services with baskets of their special Easter foods.

 

For photos from Kyiv’s Volodymyrska Cathedral today, link below:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/113 ... lbums/6004454630031334161

 

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