Easter in a warzone: Christians in Ukraine mark religious celebration with services despite threat from Russian invasion

Worshippers across Ukraine celebrated the holy season, today marking Palm Sunday for Orthodox Christians
People were pictured holding willow branches to commemorate the day as they attended church services
Christians gathered in churches to attend mass and light a candle with some becoming visibly emotional

By ELMIRA TANATAROVA FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:45, 17 April 2022 | UPDATED: 16:14, 17 April 2022

Christians across Ukraine have marked religious festivities across the war-torn nation despite the Russian invasion's threats continuing to tear apart communities as the president's office reported missile strikes and shelling in eight regions across the country between Friday and Saturday.

Today marks Palm Sunday - the Sunday before Easter - for Orthodox Christians, a religion largely practiced by many Ukrainians, with services for the holy day held in the devastated cities of Bucha and Lviv.

People in Ivano-Frankvisk, western Ukraine, were also pictured holding willow branches - the flower thought be symbolic of new life - to honour the day.

It comes as religious leaders of those celebrating Easter today have urged for peace and called on world leaders to put an end to the 'cruel and senseless' violence in Ukraine.

Worshippers in the country gathered in churches to attend mass and light a candle with some becoming visibly emotional.

In Bucha, where Russian forces have been accused of atrocities including the rape and killing of civilians, believers gathered in a church yard for a mass and were sprayed with holy water.

Some 50 people attended a service at the town's church, carrying willow and praying for the dead.


LVIV: Christians across Ukraine have marked religious festivities across the war-torn nation despite the Russian invasion's threats continuing to tear apart communities


BUCHA: Today marks Palm Sunday - the Sunday before Easter - for Orthodox Christians, a religion largely practiced by many Ukrainians, with services for the holy day held across the country


BUCHA: Worshippers across the country gathered in churches to attend mass and light a candle with some becoming visibly emotional

Russia denies targeting civilians and has called pictures of those killed in Bucha fake.

Resident Evgeniya Lebedko said she 'just prayed today to stop crying' outside the church after the service.

She added: 'We have survived these horrors and we are constantly crying. And I don't want those tears to fall but I go out every day and I smell it and I cry all the time.'

In Lviv soldiers and civilians were pictured gathering at a church for a service, with many appearing sombre at a time of brutal conflict in their country.

Meanwhile Pope Francis has urged for peace around the world, with a spotlight on the violence in 'war-torn' Ukraine, for Easter today.

The pontiff led the Catholic Easter Sunday mass at St Peter's Square at the Vatican before his solemn plea against violence.


IVANO-FRANKVISK: People in Ivano-Frankvisk, western Ukraine, were also pictured holding willow branches - the flower thought be symbolic of new life - to honour the day.

He spoke to crowds of some 50,000 for his twice yearly 'Urbi et Orbi' address, saying 'we have seen all too much blood, all too much violence'.

Marking an 'Easter of war', he urged leaders to hear the people's plea for peace in Ukraine and implicitly criticised Russia for dragging the country into a 'cruel and senseless' conflict.

Francis said: 'In this terrible night of suffering and death, may a new dawn of hope soon appear! Let there be a decision for peace.

'May there be an end to the flexing of muscles while people are suffering. Please, please, let us not get used to war!

'Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets! Peace! May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace.'


BUCHA: Andriy Halavin, an Orthodox priest, sprays holy water on believers after a service marking the Orthodox feast of Palm Sunday, in the yard of the Church of St Andrew and Pyervozvannoho All Saints


BUCHA: The Orthodox priest sprays holy water onto believers holding onto willow branches to mark Palm Sunday in the yard of the Church of St Andrew and Pyervozvannoho All Saints


BUCHA: Galina Bondar, 63, who said her son, Olexander Bondar, 32, a territorial defence member, was killed by Russian troops, reacts as she attends the Palm Sunday mass at the Church of St Andrew and Pyervozvannoho All Saints

Malory:
The church of Christ keeps marching on despite battles from the enemies