KEIGHLEY has hosted a visit from the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Britain.

Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski visited the town's Ukrainian community centre.

It was his first engagement in the parish since becoming bishop in January, 2020.

He was accompanied by Keighley's Father Jaroslav Riy, and fathers Andrii Malysh and Vitaily Kren from the London diocese.

They were greeted by Keighley parish representatives Stefan Pryimuk and Irene Cyhanko, who showed them around the centre, including its chapel.

Mr Pryimuk, secretary of Keighley Ukrainian Association, said: "Bishop Kenneth was pleased that we are maintaining our traditions in Keighley.

"He described how the Church is expanding in many areas due to the influx of Ukrainians following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

"As part of the trip, our guests also visited Utley and Morton cemeteries, where most Ukrainians locally are buried."

Also in attendance was Father Igor, of Keighley, from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

As a memento of his visit, Bishop Kenneth is receiving a copy of the History of Keighley Ukrainians from 1948-2008, written by former association chair Peter Szcur.

Keighley's Ukrainian community has been celebrating Easter.

Mr Pryimuk says: "The Keighley area has many Ukrainian guests, mostly women and children, who fled Ukraine last year because of the Russian invasion. Even away from home, they want to maintain their culture and traditions and they are able to do this with the support of the Ukrainian community centre in Keighley.

"The first part of the Easter tradition is the blessing of the ‘paska basket’, which contains all the food items served at Easter Sunday brunch.

"As well as containing special foods, the basket is decorated with greenery and flowers, plus coloured eggs and beautiful pysanky, and each has a hand-embroidered cover.

"The blessed food may not be consumed until after the morning resurrection liturgy on Easter Sunday.

"After Easter brunch, celebrations continue for the rest of the day, with family and friends visiting and enjoying many other foods and desserts.

"Following the basket blessing by Father Riy, our Ukrainian guests arranged a buffet meal as a thank you to the centre for the help given to them when they were forced away from their families, brothers and husbands who had stayed in Ukraine to protect it from the Russian invasion."

The community centre also organised sessions in traditional Ukrainian Easter egg painting, attended by children and adults.