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| Home | News | Photo | Eastertime: Orthodox believers celebrate Easter

Eastertime: Orthodox believers celebrate Easter

Eastertime: Orthodox believers celebrate Easter
18 Apr 2020

Christ is risen! The good news about the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ traveled the Orthodox world on 19 April. The celebration began the day before on the Holy Saturday when the Holy Fire came down in the Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was only a small number of clergy and local parishioners who experienced it, which happened for the first time in history. Numerous pilgrims stayed at home but millions of believers watched the miracle live on TV. Orthodox churches of more than 60 countries, including Belarus, began solemn liturgies at midnight. In view of the precautions, they were held behind closed doors with parishioners keeping the distance or praying outdoors.

Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus called upon the faithful not to attend church services amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. He noted that it was a truly difficult decision to take. However, “blessing Easter cakes is a rite, it is of secondary importance; a human life is much more valuable”. “Easter cakes and curd puddings will be blessed outside churches. We call upon everyone to pray at home these days. Services will be broadcast on TV,” Metropolitan Pavel said.

In his traditional Easter address, the head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church called on believers to stay united and help each other. “We will aspire to live in such a way as to show our neighbors an example of endurance and prudence, an example of faith in God and faithfulness to the Holy Church of Christ, showing graciousness, empathy and fraternal love to all around us.”

Easter services began in the Belarusian churches at midnight. The service in the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk was broadcast live. Worshipers had an opportunity to watch Easter services online in other Minsk churches as well, including the Church of the Most Holy Mother of God Icon, St. Elizabeth Convent, and Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral.

The head of state also joined the Easter celebrations. This year Aleksandr Lukashenko lit a candle in the Holy Annunciation Church in Malye Lyady village in Smolevichi District. “Easter is a source of great joy and spiritual strength. It celebrates the value of human life, enhances belief in love and justice,” the president noted in his message to Belarusian believers.

2020 Easter celebrations in various regions of Belarus in our story

Good Friday service in the Convent of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Grodno
Good Friday: a religious procession around Grodno
Easter food consecration
Easter food consecration
Easter food consecration
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