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Orthodox Christians Mark Second Easter Under Pandemic Restrictions

Orthodox Christians around the world are observing the Easter holiday for a second time amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Masked Ukrainian Christians light candles for the Holy Fire at St. Michael's Golden Domed Cathedral in Kyiv on May 2, Orthodox Easter Sunday.
1 Masked Ukrainian Christians light candles for the Holy Fire at St. Michael's Golden Domed Cathedral in Kyiv on May 2, Orthodox Easter Sunday.
St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv holds Orthodox Easter celebrations on May 2.
2 St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv holds Orthodox Easter celebrations on May 2.
A priest sprinkles holy water on cakes and eggs during the Orthodox Easter celebrations at a military unit in the Russian city of Novocherkassk in the Rostov region on May 2.
3 A priest sprinkles holy water on cakes and eggs during the Orthodox Easter celebrations at a military unit in the Russian city of Novocherkassk in the Rostov region on May 2.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, conducts the Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow on May 1.
4 The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, conducts the Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow on May 1.
Worshippers attend an Orthodox Easter service in the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery in Moscow on May 2.
5 Worshippers attend an Orthodox Easter service in the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery in Moscow on May 2.
Worshippers walk with candles around Sioni Cathedral of the Dormition during the Orthodox Easter service in Tbilisi, Georgia.
6 Worshippers walk with candles around Sioni Cathedral of the Dormition during the Orthodox Easter service in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Worshippers attend an Easter night church service at Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi.
7 Worshippers attend an Easter night church service at Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi.
Kyrgyz worshippers light candles and wait for the blessing of their Easter cakes outside an Orthodox church in Bishkek.
8 Kyrgyz worshippers light candles and wait for the blessing of their Easter cakes outside an Orthodox church in Bishkek.
A priest sprinkles the faithful with holy water during Orthodox Easter celebrations at the Curchi Monastery in the Orhei district, Moldova.
9 A priest sprinkles the faithful with holy water during Orthodox Easter celebrations at the Curchi Monastery in the Orhei district, Moldova.
Children sit next to a woman during an Orthodox Easter service at the Armenian cathedral in Bucharest, Romania.
10 Children sit next to a woman during an Orthodox Easter service at the Armenian cathedral in Bucharest, Romania.
Orthodox metropolitan of Dabar-Bosna, Hrizostom, conducts an Orthodox Easter service in a church in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
11 Orthodox metropolitan of Dabar-Bosna, Hrizostom, conducts an Orthodox Easter service in a church in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
An Orthodox Bosnian Serb woman lights candles during the Easter service in the Orthodox church in Sarajevo.
12 An Orthodox Bosnian Serb woman lights candles during the Easter service in the Orthodox church in Sarajevo.
Macedonian believers hold candles during the Easter service outside of the main Orthodox church, St. Kliment's, in Skopje, North Macedonia.
13 Macedonian believers hold candles during the Easter service outside of the main Orthodox church, St. Kliment's, in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Decorated Easter eggs are on display at the Orthodox Easter liturgy in the St. Sava Temple in Belgrade, Serbia.
14 Decorated Easter eggs are on display at the Orthodox Easter liturgy in the St. Sava Temple in Belgrade, Serbia.
People line up to attend an Easter liturgy in the Church of Christ's Resurrection in Podgorica, Montenegro.
15 People line up to attend an Easter liturgy in the Church of Christ's Resurrection in Podgorica, Montenegro.
Clergy at the Metropolitan of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro perform the Easter liturgy in the Church of Christ's Resurrection in Podgorica on May 2. They used one teaspoon to share communion among the congregation, violating prescribed COVID-19 measures.
16 Clergy at the Metropolitan of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro perform the Easter liturgy in the Church of Christ's Resurrection in Podgorica on May 2. They used one teaspoon to share communion among the congregation, violating prescribed COVID-19 measures.
A Bulgarian worshipper wearing a face mask holds a candle during an evening Easter service in the church St. Cyril and Methodius in Isperih.
17 A Bulgarian worshipper wearing a face mask holds a candle during an evening Easter service in the church St. Cyril and Methodius in Isperih.
Orthodox Christians carry an icon of the Virgin Mary during a procession marking Easter near the  Bachkovo Monastery in Bulgaria on May 3.
18 Orthodox Christians carry an icon of the Virgin Mary during a procession marking Easter near the  Bachkovo Monastery in Bulgaria on May 3.
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