Around 300 millions of Orthodox Christians worldwide celebrate Easter today, Sunday 16th of April with greeting Hristos Voskrese and replies Vaiustinu Voskrese with its various regional variations.

Thousands of Christians attended the thousand-year-old Holy Fire rite in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre Saturday ahead of the Orthodox Easter despite an Israeli Forces imposing security clampdown in the holy city.

The ancient church was built on the site where Christian tradition says Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected.

The annual Holy Fire ceremony, during which priests bring a flame from the tomb which they believe sparks miraculously each year, marks the most important event in the Orthodox calendar.

Clutching candles, so the holy flame can be passed from one hand to another, pilgrims crowded the inside the church this year in reduced numbers.

Jerusalem

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, and for the second consecutive year Israeli police had told church leaders that access would be considerably restricted.

In the past about 10,000 worshippers would fill the church, with many more crowding into the surrounding alleys of the Old City, before the flame was flown to Orthodox communities internationally.

This year’s ceremony also comes after deadly attacks and clashes in Israel, east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, and cross-border fire several days ago between Israeli forces and militants in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria.

On Wednesday, Israeli police said attendance inside the church would be limited to 1,800 people including clergy as a safety measure.

Last year there were scuffles between worshippers and police who set up barriers throughout the city’s Christian quarter.

“We understand the feeling, the religious feelings of people that want to participate in this Holy Light ceremony. But unfortunately not everyone can enter the church because of the safety regulation,” Yoram Segal of the Jerusalem district police said.

Christians made up more than 18 per cent of the population of the Holy Land when the state of Israel was created in 1948, but now they are fewer than two percent, mostly Orthodox.

In the annual ceremony that has been observed for over a millennium, a flame taken from Jesus’ tomb is used to light the candles of fervent believers in Orthodox communities near and far. The devout believe the origin of the flame is a miracle and is shrouded in mystery.

On Saturday, after hours of anticipation, a priest reached inside the dim tomb and ignited his candle.

Each neighbour passed the light to another and, little by little, the darkened church was lit by tiny patches of light, which eventually illuminated the whole building.

Israeli authorities placed strict limits on attendance (AP)

Many trying to get to the church – built on the site where Christian tradition holds that Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected – were thrilled to mark the rite of the Orthodox Easter week in Jerusalem.

But for the second consecutive year, Israel’s strict limits on event capacity dimmed some of the exuberance.

In some cases, pushing and shoving escalated into violence. Footage showed Israeli police dragging and beating several worshippers, thrusting a Coptic Priest against the stone wall and tackling one woman to the ground.

At least one older man was taken away in an ambulance.

Israel has capped the ritual to just 1,800 people. The Israeli police say they must be strict because they are responsible for maintaining public safety.

The ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected (AP)

Easter festivities in Macedonia

Citizens burn candles and leave Easter eggs for health in the “St. Kliment Ohridski” Cathedral.

In Macedonia, Friday was a day of mourning for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Citizens left Easter eggs at St. Kliment Ohridski Cathedral while praying for good health.

No bells were rung, instead wooden beams were struck. Believers of the Macedonian Orthodox Church are also expecting the arrival of the Holy Fire directly from Jerusalem.

Russia

April 16 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin on Sunday attended an Easter service conducted by the Russian Orthodox Church, which has strongly backed the Kremlin leader’s decision to invade Ukraine.

Putin, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and dark purple tie, stood to one side in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral, holding a lit red candle, live images of the midnight service showed. He also attended last year.

The Russian leader crossed himself several times during the ceremony, known as the Divine Liturgy. When Patriarch Kirill announced “Christ has risen”, Putin joined the other members of the congregation with the reply “Truly he is risen”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia April 16, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Karpukhin/Pool via REUTERS

Ethiopians Celebrate Orthodox Easter

Ethiopians are celebrating Easter on Sunday April 16, in accordance with the Julian calendar. Easter for Orthodox Christian Ethiopians and Eritreans is called Fasika or Tensae.