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Easter celebrated around the world from Greece to Iraq

Last updated: 2025/04/20 at 3:23 PM

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Pope Francis’ delegate Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presides over the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on 19 April in Vatican City, Vatican

Getty Images He is sitting on a chair (on left) facing the right corner of the picture. Behind him is a raised area with an arrangement of flowers — Pope Francis’ delegate Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presides over the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on 19 April in Vatican City, Vatican

Christians around the world are celebrating Easter.

All Christians, from Orthodox and Western churches, are observing the holiday on the same day this year – not often the case because the churches use different calendars.

In Greece, the sky lit up with fireworks, while worshippers in Jerusalem lit candles at the church where Jesus is said to have been crucified and buried. Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead, which is remembered at Easter.

Here is a look at how some have been celebrating the holiday as days of festivities culminate in Easter Sunday.

Pope Francis waves to the faithful after the Urbi et Orbi blessing following the Easter Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City

EPA Pope Francis waves to the faithful after the Urbi et Orbi blessing following the Easter Mass in Saint Peter's Square, in Vatican City, 20 April 2025. — Pope Francis waves to the faithful after the Urbi et Orbi blessing following the Easter Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City

Palestinian Christians light candles during the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is said to be the place Jesus was crucified and was buried, in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Getty Images Crowds of people outside in Jerusalem. There are four men sitting on the shoulders of other men. They are wearing matching t-shirts depicting Jesus, with Arabic inscription. — Palestinian Christians light candles during the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is said to be the place Jesus was crucified and was buried, in Jerusalem’s Old City.

People wait to have their baskets of Easter cakes blessed outside a church in Lviv, Ukraine

Getty Images A priest wearing white waves a wet brush over the baskets which are sitting on the floor in a line. Behind the baskets are people including children. In the background on the left, there is a partial view of steps leading to the church — People wait to have their baskets of Easter cakes blessed outside a church in Lviv, Ukraine

Christian children march in a parade to celebrate Easter amid security measures in Damascus, Syria

Reuters Christian children wearing dress shirts, trousers and ties march in an Easter parade, holding a banner that reads Happy Easter — Christian children march in a parade to celebrate Easter amid security measures in Damascus, Syria

In Kenya’s capital Nairobi, members of the Legio Maria Church gather at Africa Church Mission to mark Easter Sunday

Getty Images The members are wearing all white including habits and are holding candles — In Kenya’s capital Nairobi, members of the Legio Maria Church gather at Africa Church Mission to mark Easter Sunday

Turkish Christians gather at the Greek Orthodox Church in Mersin for the Easter Sunday service

Getty Images A priest is reading from scripture in the centre and around him is the congregation, some who are holding candles — Turkish Christians gather at the Greek Orthodox Church in Mersin for the Easter Sunday service

Orthodox faithful attend a Easter Sunday Mass at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, on Sunday

Reuters A family attends a Easter Sunday Mass at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey — Orthodox faithful attend a Easter Sunday Mass at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, on Sunday

People dressed in traditional clothes remove the covers from Easter baskets during a service in Maramures, Breb, Romania

Reuters People dressed in traditional clothes remove the covers from Easter baskets, during the Easter service, in the Northern region of Maramures, in Breb, Romania, April 20, 2025 — People dressed in traditional clothes remove the covers from Easter baskets during a service in Maramures, Breb, Romania

A woman dressed in traditional clothes of the Sorbs, a Slavic ethnic minority, sings near the church in Schleife, eastern Germany, on Easter Sunday

Reuters A woman dressed in traditional clothes of the Slavic ethnic minority of Sorbs, sings near the church in Schleife on Easter Sunday, eastern Germany, April 20, 2025. REUTERS/Matthias Rietschel — A woman dressed in traditional clothes of the Sorbs, a Slavic ethnic minority, sings near the church in Schleife, eastern Germany, on Easter Sunday

The head of Sri Lanka’s Roman catholic church, cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, leads an Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. Lucia in Colombo on Saturday

Getty Images Clergy and worshippers stand in a circle around a lit pyre as the vigil is under way — The head of Sri Lanka’s Roman catholic church, cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, leads an Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. Lucia in Colombo on Saturday

In Bethlehem, West Bank, Orthodox Christians gather at the Church of the Nativity, where Jesus is believed to have been born

Getty Images There are multiple people gathered, some women who have their heads covered. There are lanterns hanging from the ceiling — In Bethlehem, West Bank, Orthodox Christians gather at the Church of the Nativity, where Jesus is believed to have been born

Nepalese Catholics hold candles as they stand during the Easter Vigil in Lalitpur

Getty Images Men and women stand holding lit candles. — Nepalese Catholics hold candles as they stand during the Easter Vigil in Lalitpur

An Orthodox priest delivers a sermon to parishioners during the Easter service before blessing Easter cakes and eggs placed on tables in a St Petersburg church in Russia

Getty Images A long table laden with filled baskets and eggs and cakes sits between worshippers who stand before the priest. The women wear headscarves. — An Orthodox priest delivers a sermon to parishioners during the Easter service before blessing Easter cakes and eggs placed on tables in a St Petersburg church in Russia

Near Mosul in Iraq, a service in under way at the Mar Yohanna Church

Getty Images The congregation stands in a crowd. In the centre is a line of boys and girls who are part of the service, wearing white robes with red trimmings. The boy in front carries a wooden cross engraved with Arabic inscriptions — Near Mosul in Iraq, a service in under way at the Mar Yohanna Church

In France’s Notre Dame, the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich leads the cathedral’s first Easter celebrations since it reopened after a fire

Getty Images The archbishop - in the centre of the procession - holds a crown of thorns inside the church. There are other members of the service before and behind him — In France’s Notre Dame, the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich leads the cathedral’s first Easter celebrations since it reopened after a fire

An image of Christ resurrected is carried by women during the Resurrection Sunday procession in Toledo, central Spain

EPA An image of Christ resurrected is carried by women during the Resurrection Sunday procession in Toledo, central Spain — An image of Christ resurrected is carried by women during the Resurrection Sunday procession in Toledo, central Spain

The Fatima Church in Islamabad, Pakistan saw devotees in prayer for Easter

Getty Images Congregation stands at pews with hands held up in prayer (palms facing up) — The Fatima Church in Islamabad, Pakistan saw devotees in prayer for Easter

In Vrontados, Greece, the sky is lit up with fireworks during a traditional Easter “rocket war”

Getty Images People are gathered outside on hilltops to watch the fireworks at night — In Vrontados, Greece, the sky is lit up with fireworks during a traditional Easter “rocket war”

Coptic Orthodox Christians in Cairo, Egypt gather at the Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner

Getty Images Men and boys who are part of the service carry wooden crosses as the walk past the congregation, some of whom reach out to touch the crosses. — Coptic Orthodox Christians in Cairo, Egypt gather at the Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner

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