Orthodox Christians Mark Easter Holiday Amid Coronavirus Restrictions

Russian Orthodox believers hold candles during Easter Sunday celebrations in Moscow on April 19. Russian churches held services but restricted the number of believers due to the coronavirus epidemic. 

A Russian Orthodox priest speaks to parishioners during a live broadcast in an empty Moscow church on April 19. Just a few priests accompanied by volunteers conducted the religious service.

A Russian priest blesses food on the eve of Orthodox Easter Sunday in Moscow.

An Orthodox priest blesses traditional cakes and eggs at Pokrovsky Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 18.

Cossacks wearing protective face masks pray during a service in Stavropol, Russia, on the eve of Orthodox Easter.

Ukrainian police restrict the number of people arriving at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery for Easter celebrations on April 18. It was one of the only places that allowed worshipers instead of broadcasting services. The complex was placed under quarantine after more than 90 of its monks tested positive for the coronavirus. At least two have died. The monastery is controlled by a rival Orthodox denomination in Ukraine that is loyal to the Russian church in Moscow.

St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv holds Orthodox Easter celebrations on April 18.

St. Michael's Cathedral in Kyiv during Orthodox Easter celebration on April 18

An Orthodox priest blesses believers during Easter celebrations in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on April 18.

An all-night Easter vigil is held in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on April 19.

An Orthodox priest blesses believers during Easter celebration in Minsk.

Worshipers practice physical distancing during a mass at Trinity Cathedral in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on April 18. Only a few priests accompanied by volunteers conducted the service after most people stayed away from Easter celebrations in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.

People attend an Easter service at Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Priests hold the Holy Fire from Jerusalem before the Orthodox Easter celebrations at Chisinau International Airport, Moldova, on April 18.

A volunteer wearing a protective outfit distributes holy light in Bucharest, Romania, on April 18.

Volunteers wearing protective outfits light candles during the Orthodox Easter service in Bucharest on April 18.

Father carries his daughter as they attend midnight Easter Orthodox Mass in front of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria, on April 19. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church resisted calls to close churches for Easter, the most significant holiday in the Orthodox calendar. But following demands by health authorities, it urged worshipers to pray at home rather than going to church. 

A worshiper wearing a face mask kisses an icon during the Orthodox Christian Easter service at a church in Zenica, central Bosnia.

Archimandrite Partenie attends Orthodox Easter services at St. John the Baptist Monastery near Mavroro, North Macedonia, as the service is streamed online on April 18.

Police officers watch the entrance of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, Montenegro, on April 19 as Serbian Orthodox priests hold a morning Easter liturgy without worshipers.

Serbian priests hold a morning Easter liturgy in the crypt of the cavernous St. Sava Temple, one of the world’s largest Orthodox houses of worship, in Belgrade on April 19. Most parishioners stayed away in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus. In Serbia, Montenegro, and Northern Macedonia, Easter holidays were celebrated at home, without the possibility of believers attending church services.

A Greek Orthodox nun, wearing a protective face mask and gloves, gestures while on her way to the Holy Fire ceremony in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem's old city on April 18. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that the Holy Fire emanates from within the Tomb of Christ. Measures were taken by the Israeli government to limit the number of services.