Paşte (Easter) in Moldova

Moldova has rich traditions for celebrating Easter. The women (at least those with the time or hardiness of heart) spend hours making Cozonac and Pasca (special Easter breads) and decorating eggs. The pickled eggs from the Conner family tradition, however, were a new wonder for our Moldovan friends.

We arrived at the Easter service at 11:30 p.m. and left around 6 a.m. The church waits for a flame that actually comes from Jerusalem by plane to the capital city, then by car to all the villages. All the congregants light their little candles from this same flame and march around the church singing "Christ has risen from the dead...." At the end of the service, numerous people lay out a towel or basket covered with their Easter breads, meat, house wine and candle lit with the flame from Jerusalem, waiting for the priest to come around and bless their offering with the holy water. Following the blessing, they return home, keeping the holy flame alight to place in their house .
In this picture, after 5 and a half hours, with annointing oil drippig down my forehead, I am bit tired and cold. Hoping we were at the beginning of the blessing route (people were lined up all around the church) we realized our departure would be delayed a bit as the priest went in the other direction around the church - putting us closer to the end:). When he finally got to us, he said, "Hristos a inviat! (Christ has risen!)" To which we replied "Adeverat a inviat! (He has risen indeed!)" Smiling, he continued, "Jessica, this is how we do it in Moldova," while repetedly flinging a larger than necessary sprinkling of chilly holy water at us. We went home tired but invigorated - joyful to have shared in this traditional celebration of the Resurrection.

Easter eggs I decorated with our Romanian tutor and friend, Doamna Zina.

The end of the march around the church.

All the laid out Easter celebration food awaiting the blessing.