Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
All RFE/RL websites Follow RFE/RL on Google
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
News

Ukrainians Mark Somber Orthodox Easter As Zelenskiy Vows 'Wickedness' Will Not Destroy His Country

A woman offers consecrated Easter cake and eggs to Territorial Defense members outside a church in Bucha, outside Kyiv, on April 24.
A woman offers consecrated Easter cake and eggs to Territorial Defense members outside a church in Bucha, outside Kyiv, on April 24.

Ukrainians are marking Orthodox Easter with prayers for those fighting on the front lines and others trapped beyond them in places like Mariupol, while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed in an Easter message that no "wickedness" will destroy the country.

Standing inside the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Zelenskiy said in a video address that Ukraine will overcome the darkness that Russia's unprovoked war has brought upon it.

"Today, we still believe in the new victory of Ukraine and we are all convinced that we will not be destroyed by any horde or wickedness," Zelenskiy said.

"We are overcoming dark times and on this day I -- and most of us -- are not in bright clothes, but we are fighting for a luminous idea."

Subdued Easter celebrations took place across the country, exactly two months since the beginning of the Russian invasion that has killed thousands and forced millions to flee their homes.

Ukrainians Celebrate Orthodox Easter Across Country And Abroad

Ukrainian soldiers pray inside an Orthodox church during Easter in Slovyansk, near the front line in the eastern Donetsk region, on April 24.
1/12 Ukrainian soldiers pray inside an Orthodox church during Easter in Slovyansk, near the front line in the eastern Donetsk region, on April 24.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
A woman offers consecrated Easter cake and eggs to Territorial Defense members outside St. Andrew's church and Pyervozvannoho All Saints in Bucha, outside Kyiv.
2/12 A woman offers consecrated Easter cake and eggs to Territorial Defense members outside St. Andrew's church and Pyervozvannoho All Saints in Bucha, outside Kyiv.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
Local residents walk after the Orthodox Easter service next to the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church, which was damaged by shelling, in the village of Peremoha, in the Kyiv region.
3/12 Local residents walk after the Orthodox Easter service next to the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church, which was damaged by shelling, in the village of Peremoha, in the Kyiv region.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
An Orthodox priest sprinkles holy water on believers during the Orthodox Easter service next to the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church in Peremoha.
4/12 An Orthodox priest sprinkles holy water on believers during the Orthodox Easter service next to the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church in Peremoha.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
A Ukrainian soldier holds a cake in a helmet during a ceremony to bless Easter cakes and eggs outside the Volodymyr Cathedral in Kyiv.
5/12 A Ukrainian soldier holds a cake in a helmet during a ceremony to bless Easter cakes and eggs outside the Volodymyr Cathedral in Kyiv.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
Polish and Ukrainian faithful attend the Easter service at the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene in Warsaw on April 24.
6/12 Polish and Ukrainian faithful attend the Easter service at the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene in Warsaw on April 24.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
A priest blesses traditional Easter food baskets during an Easter Mass at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in the southern city of Zaporizhzhya.
7/12 A priest blesses traditional Easter food baskets during an Easter Mass at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in the southern city of Zaporizhzhya.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
Orthodox worshipers hold candles during the Easter service at the Brancusi Parish Church in Bucharest on April 24. The service was also attended by dozens of Ukrainian refugees living in a social center belonging to the church.
8/12 Orthodox worshipers hold candles during the Easter service at the Brancusi Parish Church in Bucharest on April 24. The service was also attended by dozens of Ukrainian refugees living in a social center belonging to the church.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
In a holiday address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, "We are overcoming dark times and on this day I -- and most of us -- are not in bright clothes, but we are fighting for a luminous idea."
9/12 In a holiday address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, "We are overcoming dark times and on this day I -- and most of us -- are not in bright clothes, but we are fighting for a luminous idea."
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
An Orthodox priest sprays holy water on believers during the Orthodox Easter service outside St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kyiv.
10/12 An Orthodox priest sprays holy water on believers during the Orthodox Easter service outside St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kyiv.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
A Ukrainian woman takes part in Easter Mass at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Zaporizhzhya.
11/12 A Ukrainian woman takes part in Easter Mass at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Zaporizhzhya.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
A woman wipes away tears as she attends Easter Mass at St. Andrew's Church and Pyervozvannoho All Saints in Bucha, outside Kyiv.
12/12 A woman wipes away tears as she attends Easter Mass at St. Andrew's Church and Pyervozvannoho All Saints in Bucha, outside Kyiv.
Along the front lines amid the war with Russia, in the capital, Kyiv, and in nearby countries where people have sought refuge, Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Easter on April 24.
Previous slide
Next slide

Serhiy Hayday, governor of the eastern Luhansk region, said on April 24 that seven churches there had been destroyed in the fighting.

Ukrainian authorities had on April 23 urged those celebrating to follow religious services online and to respect nighttime curfews.

Zelenskiy said on April 21 that Russia had rejected a proposal for a truce over the Easter period.

Senior Ukrainian negotiator Mykhaylo Podolyak said on April 24 Russian forces were shelling the Avozstal steelworks in the besieged southern city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian defenders are holed up.

Writing on Twitter, he called for "a real Easter truce in Mariupol," along with an immediate humanitarian corridor for civilians and special talks to facilitate the exchange of military and civilians.

In his Easter message Zelenskiy said Mariupol and its "heroic defenders" should not be forgotten.

"It is possible to destroy the walls, but it is not possible to destroy the foundation on which the spirit of our warriors, the spirit of the whole country, rests," he said.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide, called for humanitarian corridors in Mariupol and other areas of Ukraine, where he said, "an indescribable human tragedy is unfolding."

With reporting by AP and Reuters
  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 24 languages in 18 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

This item is part of
​
XS
SM
MD
LG