VATICAN CITY (AP) – The happiest holiday of Christianity was celebrated around the world with the faithful separated on benches and choirs singing “Hallelujah” through face covers on a second Easter Sunday marked by pandemic precautions.
From vast Catholic cathedrals to Protestant churches, the faithful followed regulations on the coronavirus. In some European countries, citizens lined up for Easter while receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
In the Lombard region of Italy, where the pandemic first broke out in the West, a hospital gave a traditional dove-shaped Easter cake that symbolized peace to every person waiting to be vaccinated. Many of those who came were in their eighties.
A football team from Lyon, France, opened its stadium as a vaccination center for the long holiday weekend. Some 9,000 people were expected to be shot for three days as the French government tries to speed up vaccinations amid a new outbreak of infections.
In the Holy Land, travel restrictions and quarantine regulations prevented foreign pilgrims from attending religious sites in Jerusalem during Holy Week, which culminates in Holy Week celebrations. Pope Francis lamented that the pandemic has prevented some churchgoers from attending services.
In St. Peter’s Basilica, the approximately 200 faithful who were able to attend seemed lost in the cavernous cave. Normally, thousands would be at the Mass celebrated by Francis, and more than 100.00 times they would gather in St. Peter’s Square to receive the Easter blessing afterwards.
But this year, as in 2020, it is forbidden to gather crowds in Italy and the Vatican. Francis delivered his Easter speech at noon on world affairs from inside the basilica, taking the opportunity to re-attract vaccines to reach the poorest countries.
The pontiff seemed tired of pointing out that the pandemic measures have affected the religious traditions of the festivities and have kept some faithful from public worship.
“We pray that these restrictions may be lifted, as well as all restrictions on freedom of worship and religion throughout the world, and that everyone may pray and praise God freely,” Francis said.
In Syria, where a national vaccination program has not yet begun, attendees at the Church of Our Lady of Damascus prayed for a way out of the economic and political crisis, only worsened by the pandemic.
“We came to church for Easter and so we got rid of the pandemic that we are,” Bassam Assaf said. “Of course, we are not afraid of the coronavirus. It is the reality we face, but it cannot stop us from coming and praying to God to get us out of this ordeal and help the world ”.
The Roman Catholic clergy army of the Holy Land held a service in the church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City of Jerusalem. This is where many Christians believe that Jesus was crucified, buried and risen from the dead. The success of Israel’s vaccination campaign has allowed many places to be reopened, including religious sites.
The pandemic prevented the Brotherhood of the Holy Resurrection of Seville from sending its ornate Easter float, carrying an imposing statue of Jesus, through the streets of the Spanish city. Instead, the Brotherhood posted old videos and photos of its last procession, two years ago.
Some Pentecostal Christians in South Africa canceled a three-day retreat from Good Friday. On the hills overlooking Soweto, a municipality in Johannesburg, the apostolic Pentecostals gathered in small groups on Sunday to celebrate Easter.
In South Korea, the Yoido Full Gospel Protestant Church, the largest Protestant church in the country, only allowed about 2,000 people to attend the Easter service, that is, about 17% of the capacity of the main building. Masked worshipers sang hymns and prayed as the service aired online and on Christian television channels.
With the intention of fighting weeks of growing infections, the Italian government ordered people to stay home for the three-day weekend, except for essential errands. The government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi allowed a daily visit to relatives or friends in the regions of origin of the residents during the weekend, which includes the national holiday on Monday.
Italy allows religious services in the pandemic if capacity is limited and masks are worn. But in the beginning, the many churches in the predominantly Roman Catholic country were only open to individual prayer.
Hundreds of Catholics gathered at the mammoth Cathedral of St. St. Paul Paul, Minnesota, for Easter Eve service Saturday night. All other benches were kept empty and masks were mandatory. Still, the solemn liturgy marked a hopeful new beginning for the congregation after a turbulent year.
After all the virtual Easter services last year, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City was at half capacity for Sunday Mass. The heart sang through masks.
In Detroit, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church opened Easter services in person for the first time in more than a year, with capacity limits and social distancing rules set. The Rev. Charles Christian Adams told the Detroit Free Press that people need a church, especially after the congregation lost at least 14 members against COVID-19.
Tonee Carpio said being physically in St. Mary’s Church. Vincent de Paul, in Austin, Texas, meant a lot to her after last year’s services were only offered online. He said being in church helps keep his Filipino culture alive in his city, as some prayers are offered in his native Tagalog.
“When you’re inside a church, you’re more solemn, you can focus on God,” he said.
In Florida, Eastgate Christian Fellowship in Panama City Beach hosted its annual sunrise service on the beach. The church had to undo the service last year because all the beaches were closed. Pastor Janelle Green estimated that about 400 people participated.
Robin Fox of Palm Bay was scheduled to spend Sunday driving his mother to Orlando to get a second dose of vaccine at a Federal Emergency Management Agency access site.
“She was released on the same day as[la gent va a]the church to celebrate that Jesus has risen, so I said (to her), “It’s like you’re resurrecting too,” Fox said.
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PA reporters from around the world contributed.
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