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This article is about a type of bread. For the Czech-Canadian actor, see Vladimir Kulich. For the village in Iran, see Kulich, Iran.
Kulich pies.JPG
Type Bread
Course Before breakfast
Cookbook:Kulich  Kulich
Традиционные пасхальные яйца и куличи..jpg
This illustration by Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin from Russia uses old Russian language orthography that can be translated to a modern rendition along the lines of "Kulich-city is standing, glorifying itself; Lauding itself over other cities; There is no other place better than me!; For I am all quark and dough! The X and the B are for Xpucmoc Bockpec (Christ Arose)
A painting of people with Easter fare
An Orthodox Church of Rome priest (second from right) blesses paschal (Easter) foods including kulichs, eggs, and wine
Easter in Galicia painting

Kulich (Russian: кули́ч; IPA: [kʊˈlʲitɕ], ultimately from Greek κόλλιξ - kollix, meaning a roll or loaf of bread[1][2]) is a kind of Easter bread that is traditional in the Orthodox Christian faith and is eaten in countries like Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Georgia and Serbia.

Traditionally after the Easter service, the kulich, which has been put into a basket and decorated with colorful flowers, is blessed by the priest. Blessed kulich is eaten before breakfast each day. Any leftover kulich that is not blessed is eaten with Paskha for dessert.

Kulich is baked in tall, cylindrical tins (like coffee or fruit juice tins). When cooled, kulich is decorated with white icing (which slightly drizzles down the sides) and colorful flowers. Historically, is was often served with cheese paska bearing the symbol XB (from the traditional Easter greeting of Христос воскресе, "Christ is Risen").

Kulich is only eaten between Easter and Pentecost.[citation needed]

The recipe for kulich is similar to that of Italian panettone.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Vasmer's Etymological Dictionary, s.v. "кулич"
  2. ^ κόλλιξ, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus

External links[edit]