This film documents the Easter ritual of blessing baskets celebrated by Bradford Ukrainian community’s Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate) and Orthodox congregations. The services were conducted at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre at Westfield, Legrams Lane and Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St Mary the Protectoress. The film was made by the Ukrainian Video Archives Society but the film does not include a credit to them, and the language is Ukrainian. The first part of the tape is a local TV show and...

This film documents the Easter ritual of blessing baskets celebrated by Bradford Ukrainian community’s Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate) and Orthodox congregations. The services were conducted at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre at Westfield, Legrams Lane and Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St Mary the Protectoress. The film was made by the Ukrainian Video Archives Society but the film does not include a credit to them, and the language is Ukrainian. The first part of the tape is a local TV show and Top of the Pops which runs until 32 mins 32 secs in. The film begins at 34 mins 5 secs with a scene at the back of the hall at Bradford, and follows a woman as she works her way through the hall looking somewhere to place her basket. The hall has been set up with tables down the side for baskets, and a space in the centre for the congregation, who have already started to assemble. A man suggests she places her basket on the other side, so as she walks over the camera pans to show how the front of the hall. This space has been arranged to display the plashchenycha (a life-size shroud or icon of Jesus Christ in the tomb) and two CYMivsti are standing next to it on vigil. The woman places the basket on the table and then removes the rushnyk (ritual cloth) which covers it to reveal the contents. The basket is filled with pysanky, a kovbasa, a paska, a candle, boiled eggs, butter and cheese as is traditional. The camera pans to show other baskets on the table, all of which have been uncovered ready for blessing. The scene changes and shows more baskets placed on chairs and tables waiting to be blessed, showing the various styles of paska and decoration such as flowers and greenery. The camera is still filming the baskets as the liturgy begins and pans round the congregation back the back of the hall and back over the baskets. There is some interference in the vision and sound around 47 for several minutes at intervals. Then camera shows Father Matychak as he walks amongst the congregation accompanied by altar boys and a choir blessing baskets. (Sound goes wonky around 50 mins in.) Once the blessing is complete, Father Matychak and his retinue return to the stage at the front of the hall where an altar has been set up. The scene changes and focuses on Father Matychak addressing the congregation in Ukrainian with a sermon about Great Saturday (Velika Subota), festive wishes for the community and good wishes for them to continue their Ukrainian life in Bradford. He also mentions the earlier mass that was held to bless the new hall and the Easter Sunday liturgy which will begin at 11am and will be a sung mass by the mixed choir. He then speaks in English to thank guests for joining and wishes them Christ is Risen (Chrystos Voskres) and gives them an Easter blessing. The service finishes with an Easter hymn called Christ is Risen (Chrystos Voskres). The camera shows the bowl and brush used to bless the baskets on the tetrapod in front of the altar. Father Matychak and the altar boys walk off the stage as the congregation finish singing the hymn. The camera turns to focus on the congregation, who start to collect their baskets and socialise, some leaving the hall. The hymn ends and more people collect their baskets. The camera returns to viewing the same woman that it followed as she entered at the beginning of the film as she collects her basket. She says thank you to the camera and walks away. Many of the older first-generation ladies are wearing headscarves as was customary at the time. This section of the film ends with the camera focusing on one remaining basket. The next section of the film begins at 1 hr 3 mins 7 secs and shows a man holding a candle and standing in a pew in the Ukrainian Orthodox church. The camera then pans round the congregation, many of whom are holding candles and whispering, then pans to the front of the church where candles are lit and the congregation is standing. The liturgy starts with singing and the doors of the parastas are opened by the presbyter. The congregation continues to sing and the presbyter hands out crosses to his helpers and a procession forms including altar boys and male helpers holding icons and crosses. The presbyter joins them and they form a procession to the back of the church and go outside. It is dark and they carry their candles and continue to sing. The camera continues to follow the presbyter in the dark. The congregation stand outside the church with lit candles as the procession continues around the church to the choir’s singing which ebbs and flows in volume as the procession comes near to and further from the camera. The presbyter prays at the door and then the procession and the congregation return inside the church so the remainder of the liturgy can continue. Back at the front of the church, the presbyter collects all the crosses and icons from the congregation, the choir continue to sing the liturgy and the presbyter performs a blessing with incense. The camera focuses on the front (chancel and crossing) of the church and this section of the film ends at 2 hrs 11 mins 34 secs. The next scene begins at 2 hrs 12 mins 14 secs and shows back (nave) of the church where the congregation standing in an arc around their baskets. The presbyter gives a sermon then the baskets are blessed. People start to cover their baskets and leave the church. The camera pans to the chancel of the church and the film ends 2 hrs 38 mins 56 secs.