Images From the Orthodox Easter
Orthodox Easter was celebrated Sunday from Russia to Iraq, Macedonia to Manhattan.
Sadly, the commemoration of Christ’s resurrection was marred in New York by a fire which destroyed the historic Serbia Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, only hours after the completion of services.
Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.
Firefighters battle a fire at the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. The church that was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968.
The fire is a sad mark on what was otherwise a splendid global celebration. Let’s enjoy some of scenes that played out in Orthodox churches around the world.
Russia:
Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, left, Medvedev’s wife Svetlana, and Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin attend the Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, early Sunday, May 1, 2016.
A girl attends the Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, late Saturday, April 30, 2016.
Iraq:
Christians pray during Easter mass at Virgin Mary Church in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, May 1, 2016.
Christians pray during Easter mass at Virgin Mary Church in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, May 1, 2016.
Macedonia:
A woman crosses herself after lighting a candle during Easter service at St. Clement Christian Orthodox church in Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, early Sunday, May 1, 2016.
Lithuania:
Lithuanian Orthodox believers light candles and pray during an Easter vigil mass in the Prechistensky, the Cathedral Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday, April 30, 2016.
Ukraine:
Ukrainian Orthodox believers attend an Orthodox Easter service in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Church (Cave Monastery) in the capital city of Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, May 1, 2016.
Ukrainian Orthodox believers attend an Orthodox Easter service in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Church (Cave Monastery) in the capital city of Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, May 1, 2016.
Ukrainian Orthodox believers attend an Orthodox Easter service in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Church (Cave Monastery) in the capital city of Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, May 1, 2016.
Ukrainian Orthodox faithful light candles from the Holy Fire brought from Jerusalem in St. Volodymyr Cathedral during the ceremony of the Holy Fire in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2016. The Holy Fire ceremony is part of Orthodox Easter rituals and the flame symbolizes the resurrection of Christ in a ceremony dating back to the 12th century.
Greece:
Greek Orthodox faithful light their candles with Holy Fire brought from Jerusalem outside a church in Athens, on Saturday, April 30, 2016. Across the world, Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter, commemorating the day followers believe that Jesus was resurrected more than 2,000 years ago. In Greece, the faithful attended Easter Mass holding candles lit with “Holy Fire” from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
