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Amid The Ruins Of War, Ukrainians Celebrate Orthodox Easter

In sacred cathedrals, ruined churches, on the streets, and in the trenches, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine took time to celebrate Easter in the days leading up to April 16.

A believer lights a candle in her Easter basket during a service at Volodymyrsky Cathedral in Kyiv on April 16.
1 A believer lights a candle in her Easter basket during a service at Volodymyrsky Cathedral in Kyiv on April 16.
Ukrainian soldiers place candles after a special service for Ukrainian armed forces to bless Easter cakes at St. Michael's Cathedral in Kyiv on April 12.
2 Ukrainian soldiers place candles after a special service for Ukrainian armed forces to bless Easter cakes at St. Michael's Cathedral in Kyiv on April 12.
Orthodox priest Serhiy stands inside a heavily damaged church following a service to mark Orthodox Easter in the village of Lukashivka, Chernihiv region, on April 16.
3 Orthodox priest Serhiy stands inside a heavily damaged church following a service to mark Orthodox Easter in the village of Lukashivka, Chernihiv region, on April 16.
Metropolitan Epiphanius I, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, sprinkles holy water on Ukrainian soldiers holding Easter cakes at St Michael’s Cathedral in Kyiv on April 12.
4 Metropolitan Epiphanius I, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, sprinkles holy water on Ukrainian soldiers holding Easter cakes at St Michael’s Cathedral in Kyiv on April 12.
Serhiy sprays holy water on believers during the Orthodox Easter service in front of a church heavily damaged during Russia's attack in the village of Lukashivka on April 16.
5 Serhiy sprays holy water on believers during the Orthodox Easter service in front of a church heavily damaged during Russia's attack in the village of Lukashivka on April 16.
Believers gathered to celebrate Orthodox Easter in the village of Lukashivka on April 16.
6 Believers gathered to celebrate Orthodox Easter in the village of Lukashivka on April 16.
Serhiy Nayev (right), commander of the joint forces of the armed forces of Ukraine, celebrates Orthodox Easter with soldiers at a position near the border with Belarus on April 15.
7 Serhiy Nayev (right), commander of the joint forces of the armed forces of Ukraine, celebrates Orthodox Easter with soldiers at a position near the border with Belarus on April 15.
A Ukrainian soldier holds a lit candle and a traditional Easter cake that was blessed by a priest.
8 A Ukrainian soldier holds a lit candle and a traditional Easter cake that was blessed by a priest.
Ukrainian military chaplain Dionisiy holds a service for servicemen and civilians to celebrate Orthodox Easter on the streets of Druzhkivka, Ukraine, on April 16.
9 Ukrainian military chaplain Dionisiy holds a service for servicemen and civilians to celebrate Orthodox Easter on the streets of Druzhkivka, Ukraine, on April 16.
Serhiy leads a procession of believers in Lukashivka on April 16.
10 Serhiy leads a procession of believers in Lukashivka on April 16.
Military chaplain Yuriy looks out of a trench after an Orthodox Easter service for Ukrainian soldiers at their position in the Kharkiv region on April 15.
11 Military chaplain Yuriy looks out of a trench after an Orthodox Easter service for Ukrainian soldiers at their position in the Kharkiv region on April 15.
Commander Nayev taps Easter eggs with a Ukrainian soldier.
12 Commander Nayev taps Easter eggs with a Ukrainian soldier.
A woman spends Easter morning collecting Orthodox icons at a site of a church destroyed by a Russian missile strike the night before in the village of Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhya region, on April 16.
13 A woman spends Easter morning collecting Orthodox icons at a site of a church destroyed by a Russian missile strike the night before in the village of Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhya region, on April 16.
A girl looks from behind the door of Volodymyrsky Cathedral during a service on Orthodox Easter in Kyiv on April 16.
14 A girl looks from behind the door of Volodymyrsky Cathedral during a service on Orthodox Easter in Kyiv on April 16.
An Orthodox priest sprays holy water on soldiers during a service in Kyiv on April 16.
15 An Orthodox priest sprays holy water on soldiers during a service in Kyiv on April 16.
Villagers attend a service by Ukrainian military chaplain Dionisiy for soldiers and civilians to celebrate Orthodox Easter on the streets of Druzhkivka, Ukraine, on April 16.
16 Villagers attend a service by Ukrainian military chaplain Dionisiy for soldiers and civilians to celebrate Orthodox Easter on the streets of Druzhkivka, Ukraine, on April 16.
An aerial view of Serhiy's church and congregation in Lukashivka.
17 An aerial view of Serhiy's church and congregation in Lukashivka.
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