About fifty people braved the bombs in Lyman on Sunday to receive the traditional Orthodox Easter blessing, which Ukrainians are celebrating amid the grief and damage caused by the Russian invasion and two months of war.
At a frontline military post in the eastern town of Lyman, soldiers exchanged the usual patriotic salute, “Honour to Ukraine!” through “Christ is risen!”.
“It is indeed risen!” they answer in unison.
2 of 7 soldiers are guarding the road near the village of Lviv — Photo: AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba
Soldiers guard the road near the village of Lviv — Photo: AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba
Orthodox Christians in Europe, Africa and the Middle East celebrate Easter later than most in the western world. This is because they use a different calendar than, for example, Catholics and Protestants to calculate which day Easter should fall on.
At Lyman’s small Orthodox church, 50 civilians braved the risk of possible mortar fire to gather and pray from dawn. Ukrainian and Russian artillery fire could be heard while the psalms were being sung.
3 out of 7 believers brave the risks of war to celebrate Orthodox Easter in the Ukrainian village of Lyman Photo: Yasuioshy Chiba/AFP
Believers brave the risks of war to celebrate Orthodox Easter in the Ukrainian village of Lyman (Photo: Yasuioshy Chiba/AFP)
“If we make wrong decisions, darkness will destroy us as darkness destroys us during this war,” the priest said in his homily.
“We are grateful for the humanitarian response and the community caring for the displaced,” he added.
Ten soldiers and uniformed police officers, some wearing bulletproof vests, also attended Easter Mass.
4 out of 7 believers attend Easter mass in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine Photo: Yuriy Dyachyshyn / AFP
Worshipers attend an Easter mass in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine (Photo: Yuriy Dyachyshyn / AFP)
After the Russian invasion, which has now lasted two months, thousands of people have been killed and millions have been forced to flee their homes.
In the western city of Lviv, a couple dressed in their best clothes entered a crowded church, carrying the traditional Easter breakfast basket covered with embroidered canvas for the priest to bless.
5 of 7 A woman prays in a church in the Ukrainian city of Sloviansk on Orthodox Easter Sunday — Photo: Yasuioshy Chiba/AFP
A woman prays in a church in the Ukrainian city of Sloviansk on Orthodox Easter Sunday (Photo: Yasuioshy Chiba/AFP)
Yuliya, 27, listened to the sermon with a friend at the entrance to the church.
“It’s a party that brings the family together. Now we are at war and it is more important than ever to follow our traditions,” she said, dressed in a black coat.
6 of 7 A Ukrainian soldier rests in the city of Severodonetsk on Orthodox Easter Sunday — Photo: Yasuioshy Chiba/AFP
A Ukrainian soldier rests in the city of Severodonetsk on Orthodox Easter Sunday (Photo: Yasuioshy Chiba/AFP)
On Saturday (23rd), the Ukrainian authorities called for the online services to be continued and the nightly curfews to be observed.
In a special Easter message on Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked God “not to forget Bucha, Irpin, Borodianka and other places” where Ukraine accuses Russian forces of atrocities.
“Our hearts are filled with burning anger, our souls are filled with burning hatred for the invaders and everything they have done,” said Zelenskyy. “Let not anger destroy us from within…Turn it into a beneficial force to crush the forces of evil,” he added.
On the front line in the eastern city of Severodonetsk, Ukrainian troops hid their meager reserves under a bridge after being hit by Russian mortar fire overnight.
In addition to bottles of water and soft drinks, guns and granola bars, awaiting them were three large Easter loaves covered in icing and sprinkled with different colored sugar, delivered by their commander.
In Sloviansk in the west, believers walked to the Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral on Saturday afternoon with baskets full of decorated eggs and sweet bread.
Paisiy, a 34yearold priest, said he stayed in town to offer comfort to scores of residents who have refused to leave the town.
“My job is to stay. People are scared and when they come here and come to the priest, they feel safe,” he said.
Several residents came to receive a blessing of holy water, soon got back on their bikes and left.
No one lingered in the courtyard of the tiled cathedral any longer than necessary while cannon fire rang out in the distance.
7 of 7 Putin holds a candle at Easter mass at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow — Photo: Reuters/Sputnik/Sergey Guneev/Kremlin
Putin holds a candle at Easter mass at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow (Photo: Reuters/Sputnik/Sergey Guneev/Kremlin)
While in Ukraine citizens took risks to celebrate Easter, in Russia President Vladimir Putin attended a mass hosted by the Russian Orthodox Church, which has strongly supported the Kremlin leader’s “special military operation”.
Wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt and dark purple tie, Putin appeared at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior with a lit red candle, live footage of the midnight service shows.
The Russian leader crossed himself several times during the ceremony. When Patriarch Kirill proclaimed “Christ is risen,” Putin joined the other members of the congregation in replying, “Verily He is risen.” Otherwise he said nothing.
Speaking at an openair service in Moscow on Saturday, Kirill said he hoped for a speedy end to the conflict in Ukraine but did not condemn the Russian invasion. His statements supporting the intervention caused disunity in the Orthodox Church around the world.