Easter in Kyiv (Kiev)
Description
To discover the city-cradle of Slavic culture, capital of the first Ukrainian state - "The RUS of Kyiv (Kiev)".
Kyiv (Kiev) is rich in its great past history and its incredible current modernity, often unsuspected.
Kyiv (Kiev) is a charming city at Easter time. You will attend the Easter service during which you will receive a traditional basket including Easter bread, decorated painted eggs (Pysanka), black winter radishes, salt, butter and an embroidered napkin). In addition, you will take an egg painting course (Pysanky).
You will visit the following major tourist sites in particular: the Pechersk Lavra Monastery, the Cathedrals of Saint Sophia and Saint Michael, the Saint Andrew's Church, the Saint Andrew's Descent, the long Khreschatyk Street and the Independence Square - Maidan. As well as the Opera, the Ethnographic Museum in the open air and the Museum of miniatures.
For all group trips in Ukraine, Vacanture offers:
- a choice of modern and designer hotels, located in the city centre, with a range from 3-star to 5-star hotels (in line with international standards of comfort, hospitality and aesthetics).
- a choice of modern restaurants, with a designer decoration, and a high quality service. They offer a revisited authentic Ukrainian cuisine, designed to satisfy a demanding international clientele.
- transfers in modern, air-conditioned buses that meet strict international standards for comfort and safety. Highly qualified personnel for bus driving.
- optional activities for evenings.
The detailed program of the stay
4 days / 3 nights
Kyiv (Kiev)
Program (4 days / 3 nights)
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1
Kyiv (Kiev)
Reception at the international and modern airport Boryspil in Kyiv (Kiev).
Departure for the guided tour of Kyiv (Kiev), during which you will discover its main monuments: the University of Mohyla, the Golden Gate, the golden domed Cathedral of Saint Michael and the Cathedral of Saint Sophia.
Transfer to a hotel. Installation in the rooms.
Dinner at a restaurant.
Optional: attend a performance at the Opera House. -
2
Kyiv (Kiev)
Breakfast.
Visit of the Pechersk Lavra Monastery, splendid and millenary, with immense religious importance in the history of Orthodox Christianity.
Visit of the Museum of miniatures.
Visit of the Museum of treasures "The Gold of the Scythians".
Lunch at a restaurant.
Visit to the Khanenko Fine Arts Gallery Museum.
Visit to the Taras Shevchenko Museum, the greatest Ukrainian romantic poet.
Return to a hotel.
For those who wish, participation in Mass.
Traditionally, the whole family goes to church with the basket filled with traditional food and covered with beautiful embroidery. You will be enchanted by the ambient colours and carried away by the liturgical songs. For those who wish, you will be entitled to baskets to actively participate in the tradition. They will contain: the paska (Easter brioche) which symbolizes wheat (to have good harvests), pysanky and krashanky (painted and cooked eggs), horseradish which makes you cry when you grate it (to remind you that life is not always sweet and pleasant), the salt of life (because you can't live without it), butter, a symbol of good health and prosperity, sausage and pig's fat.
Return to a hotel.
For those who wish, participation in the Easter Mass.
Traditionally, on Easter night, before the religious ceremony, the boys lit a large fire in front of the church. This sacred fire was supposed to purify the air and earth of the village and keep away evil spirits. Everyone took a brandon to purify their house.
Easter ceremonies last all night until dawn. When the Easter liturgy is over, everyone gathers in the square and embraces each other with a "Khrystos Voskres" (Christ is risen). People buy pysanky and krashanky. The children are having fun.
Dinner at a restaurant.
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3
Kyiv (Kiev)
Traditional breakfast. On this exceptional morning, families share the food that was blessed the day before.
Easter is said in Ukrainian Velykden' - the great day.
On Easter Day, when two Ukrainians meet, the first one says Khrystos Voskres! (Christ is risen), and the second answers Voyistynu Voskres! (Truly he is risen)
Departure for the village-museum of Pyrogovo. With a visit to the open-air ethnographic museum presenting all the artistic and traditional treasures of the Kyiv (Kiev) region.
Return to Kyiv (Kiev) and lunch at a restaurant.
Walk along the picturesque Saint Andrew's Descent, the oldest district in Kyiv (Kiev), where many painters, artists and craftsmen offer their craft creations.
Visit of the remarkable St. Andrew's Church, in Baroque style, with its terrace overlooking Kyiv (Kiev).
Dinner at a restaurant. -
4
Kyiv (Kiev)
Breakfast.
Visit of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
Lunch at a restaurant.
Transfer to the airport and assistance with boarding formalities.