For the hundreds of millions of Orthodox faithful around the world, this year’s Holy and Great Easter was unprecedented due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Strict restrictions in numerous western countries against non-essential movement and public assemblies kept worshipers painfully away from places of worship and outdoors celebrations.
Even where cathedrals remained opened, such as in Russia and Georgia, social distancing was enforced, along with the use of masks and gloves.
The iconic message of “Christ is Risen”, Christos Anesti in Greek, was mostly proclaimed in empty cathedrals, but still reverberated throughout the world.