Eggs and Easter cakes are considered the main treats of the Easter table. There is a tradition not only to paint eggs for Easter, but also to consecrate Easter foods. Often, even those people who do not profess Christianity come to church on a certain day to bless Easter eggs and cakes.
The consecration of Easter food (cakes, eggs, Easter) begins even on the eve of the very feast of Bright Sunday, on Great Saturday. Usually the blessing of Easter food takes place in front of the temple on Saturday. This ceremony begins at approximately two o'clock in the afternoon. Depending on the number of priests in the parish, the consecration of eggs and cakes can continue until nine or ten in the evening. In parishes where one priest serves, consecration lasts several hours at certain times of the day of Holy Saturday. You need to find out about the specific time of the consecration of cakes and Easter eggs in the church itself.
In addition, Easter eggs and cakes are consecrated after the end of the divine liturgy on the Easter holiday itself. It takes place on Sunday night at about 3 pm after midnight. Consecration of products can take place both in the temple itself and when leaving it, right on the street. For this, believers line up around the temple, and the priest reads certain prayers and sprinkles Easter food with holy water.
It should be noted that the consecration of Easter cakes and eggs can continue throughout the celebration of Easter, right up to the giving. The Easter afterfeast is 39 days; on the fortieth day, the feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ is already celebrated. In some churches, in which the composition of the clergy allows, the consecration of Easter eggs and cakes can continue daily during the celebration of the entire bright week (the entire Easter week ending with the holiday of Antipascha).
It is worth saying that in addition to Easter eggs, cakes and pasta on the day of the Resurrection of Christ, other food products can also be sanctified. For example, different types of meat or wine.
