🥖 Tsoureki (Traditional Greek Pascha Bread)

Tsoureki is a traditional Greek sweet bread prepared each year in celebration of Holy Pascha (Greek Easter), symbolizing renewal, life, and the joy of Christ’s Resurrection. Soft, fragrant, and lightly sweet, the bread is carefully hand-braided, with the three strands representing the Holy Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Each ingredient carries meaning rooted in tradition:

Flour represents the sustenance and blessings God provides.
Eggs symbolize new life and rebirth, reflecting the Resurrection.
Sugar signifies the sweetness of Christ’s love and the joy of Pascha.
Butter and milk represent abundance and celebration following the Lenten fast.
Mahlepi, made from cherry pit kernels, adds a distinctive aroma symbolizing renewal and the blossoming of spring.
Mastiha, a rare resin from the island of Chios, offers a subtle fragrance long associated with purity and blessing.

Traditionally, tsoureki is shared with loved ones and placed at the Paschal table as a reminder of faith, community, and new beginnings. Lovingly baked using time-honored recipes, it remains one of the most cherished symbols of Greek Pascha celebrations.

St. Barbara’s Philoptochos Pascha Bake Sale

By St. Barbara Philoptochos

St. Barbara’s Philoptochos Pascha Bake Sale

Traditional Greek pastries made for your Pascha celebration