Tradition of blessing Easter food kept in Mahanoy City restaurant – Pottsville Republican Herald

MAHANOY CITY — Continuing a tradition begun generations ago, Easter food was blessed Tuesday morning at City Seafood and Steak House restaurant.

Standing before a basket with a cornucopia of ethnic delicacies, Rev. Guency Isaac imparted a blessing.

“May the prayers of St. Joseph, who provided the bread for your son, bless the good things that grace this table,” said Isaac, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Ashland.

James Mercuri, proprietor, recalled his grandmother, Eva Koropchak, and mother, Geraldine Mercuri, having food blessed at Easter.

“I’m keeping the tradition,” said Mercuri, 67, who’s been doing the blessing for 37 years.

Easter food was blessed at City Seafood and Steak House in Mahanoy City on March 31, 2026. RON DEVLIN/STAFF PHOTO

Cheryl Anne Mercuri, spouse, assembled an Easter basket in the Eastern European tradition kept in churches across Schuylkill County.

Staples like ham, kielbasa and cabbage were surrounded by horseradish, butter and Hrudka, a soft vanilla-flavored cheese.

White cloth draped the basket, which was adorned with red ribbon. Nearby, a crucifix rested upon an Easter lily.

On the table were pysanky eggs and Cheryl Anne’s signature Easter bread, clustered like a nest with a hardboiled egg in its center.

The paschal food, as it is called, is eaten Easter Sunday at a Sweiconka, or sanctified dinner.

Many of the foods in the basket represent those that worshipers fasted from during Lent.

James recalled how his parents and grandparents would have food blessed at St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church, Frackville, when he was a young man. The families lived in Fountain Springs.

“My grandfather, Alex Koropchak, was so strict he’d burn the leftover food rather than put it in the garbage because it had been blessed,” James said.

The practice of blessing food is kept in Slovak, Polish, Ukrainian and Lithuanian churches on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.

Blessings will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday in St. Patrick Catholic Church, Pottsville and 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Theresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, Mahanoy City.

On Good Friday, City Seafood and Steak House will feature bleenies, pierogie and fish-and-chips from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 22 S. D Street in the borough. The restaurant is open from noon to 8 p.m. on Easter Sunday.