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World News

Orthodox Easter: churches largely empty amid coronavirus pandemic

More than 260 million Orthodox Christians are celebrating #Easter under exceptional conditions due to coronavirus restrictions.

West Bank

Sacred rite for Orthodox Christians in Bethlehem marred by coronavirus

One of the most sacred Easter symbols of the Christian Orthodox faith - the Holy Fire - arrived in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Saturday.

World News

Orthodox Churches disagree on how to worship safely over Easter

Orthodox churches in Russia and Ukraine have sent mixed signals to congregations over whether or not they can attend Easter services this weekend.

No Comment

Mask-wearing chocolate bunnies bring rare bit of joy amid lockdown

Chocolate bunnies wearing protective masks are hopping off the shelves at an Athens pastry shop.

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Italy

Easter: Andrea Bocelli performs in empty Duomo di Milano cathedral

Andrea Bocelli sang "Amazing Grace" at an empty Duomo di Milano cathedral on Easter. Milan is the capital of the Italian region most heavily impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Vatican

Coronavirus: Pope Francis calls for debt relief and end to sanctions

Pope Francis called for international sanctions to be "relaxed" and for a "reduction, if not the forgiveness" of debt for poor countries during his Easter Sunday benediction.

United Kingdom

'Coronavirus will not overcome us': Queen gives first Easter address

"We know that Coronavirus will not overcome us," Queen Elizabeth II said in her first Easter address.

Spain

In Spain and beyond, Christians prepare to mark Easter in lockdown

In a world locked down by the coronavirus pandemic, Christians are commemorating the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus without traditional church services and processions.

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Orthodox Christians in Moscow prepare for Easter celebrations

Russian Orthodox believers came to Vysokopetrovsky Monastery in Moscow on Saturday on the eve of Easter to prepare for the holiest day in the Orthodox church calendar.

Greece

Watch: Greeks 'burn Judas' in ancient Orthodox Easter tradition

Boats circle a straw figure of the Biblical traitor before setting it alight. The tradition dates back several centuries but in some places has only been brought back in the last few decades.

Sri Lanka

15 dead in Sri Lanka gun battle linked to Easter bombings

The bodies of 15 people, including six children, were found in Sri Lank after a police raid on a militant hideout triggered a fierce gun battle.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka attack death toll between 250-260, not 359

The death toll in Sri Lanka's Easter Day attack is around 100 fewer than the 359 originally thought, top government officials said on Thursday.

No Comment

Ready to coal-lapse? Competitors race with heavy sacks of charcoal

Competitors raced uphill with heavy sacks of charcoal at a quirky contest in the UK.

Sri Lanka

'Moaning children saved us from Sri Lanka hotel blast'

Clare Harvey's children persuaded her to leave their table at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo just seconds before a suicide bomber struck.

Spain

Locals in Spanish town shoot and burn Carles Puigdemont effigy

Locals in a Spanish town set alight and shot at a puppet made to resemble Carles Puigdemont, the ex-president of the Spanish region of Catalonia.

Hungary

Young women 'watered like plants' in ancient Easter tradition

The so-called "watering" of the women on Easter Monday is an old fertility rite that dates back to pre-Christian times.

Germany

Horses go back to the re-neigh-sance at Bavarian Easter parade

About 500 people took part this year in the "Georgi ride", a deeply rooted tradition that sees priests bless the horses, sprinkling holy water on each one of them.

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Holy Thursday in Guatemala

Hundreds of faithful took part in a Holy Thursday procession took in the Guatemalan city of Antigua on Thursday to mark the start of a series of solemn ceremonies in the lead up to Easter.

United Kingdom

Queen celebrates 93rd birthday at Easter service

Queen celebrates 93rd birthday at Easter service

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Pope Francis and world leaders react to bombings

"There is no place for such barbarism in our region," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.