Second pandemic 'Easter' devotees hymns through masks

World: The most joyous feast day of Christianity was celebrated worldwide. The believers were spaced apart in church pews and singing choirs of "Hallelujah" through face coverings on a second Easter Sunday marked by pandemic precautions.

From sprawling Roman Catholic cathedrals to Protestant churches, worshipers followed the provisions on the coronavirus. In some European countries, citizens lined up at Easter to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

In Italy's Lombardy area, where the pandemic first broke out in the West, a hospital provided a traditional dove-shaped Easter cake signifying peace for every person waiting to be vaccinated. Many who came were in their 80s.

A soccer team in Lyon, France, has opened its stadium as a vaccination centre for the long holiday weekend. About 9,000 people are expected to receive their shots there in three days, as the French government tries to speed up vaccinations amid a new outbreak of infections.

In the Holy Land, travel limitations and quarantine regulations limited foreign pilgrims from crowding to religious places in Jerusalem throughout Holy Week, leading to Passover observances. Pope Francis laments that the pandemic has limited some churchgoers from chaperoning services.

At St. Peter's Basilica, the 200 or so faithful who were able to attend it seemed lost in the hollow cathedral. Typically thousands would be celebrated at the Mass celebrated by Francis, and more than 100.00 would sometimes gather outside in St. Peter's Square to receive his Passover after that.

But this year, as in 2020, crowds are forbidden from meeting in Italy and the Vatican. Francis delivered his Easter speech on world affairs from inside the basilica, using the opportunity to appeal anew that vaccines approach the poorest nations.

The pope sounds tired when he notices that pandemic traditions influence religious holiday traditions, and some have faithfully liked public worship.

"We pray that these limitations, as well as all restrictions on the freedom of worship and religion worldwide, will be lifted and that everyone will be allowed to pray God freely and praise God," Francis said.

In Syria, where a nationwide vaccination program has yet to start, churchgoers in the Lady of Damascus church have prayed for a way out of the economic and political crisis exacerbated by the pandemic.

"We came to church at Easter to get rid of the pandemic we are in," Bassam Assaf said. "Of course, we are not afraid of coronavirus. This is the reality we face, but it can not stop us from coming and praying to God to take us out of this trial and help the world. ”

The senior Roman Catholic clergy celebrated service at the Holy Sepulchre's Church in the Old City of Jerusalem in the Holy Land. This is where many Christians believe that Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. Israel's successful vaccination campaign has enabled the reopening of many sites, including religious sites.

The pandemic prevented Seville's Brotherhood of the Holy Resurrection from carrying its graceful Easter Fleet, with a high image of Jesus, through the Spanish city's streets. Rather, the Brotherhood posted videos and old photos of their last march two years ago.

Some Pentecostal Christians in South Africa have cancelled a three-day retreat from Good Friday. On the hills overlooking Soweto, a congregation in Johannesburg, Apostolic Pentecost gathered in small groups on Sunday to celebrate Easter.

In South Korea, Yoido Full Gospel Church, the country's largest Protestant church, allowed only about 2,000 people to attend the Easter service or about 17% of the main building's capacity. Masked worshipers sang and prayed hymns while the service was broadcast online and through Christian TV channels.

The Italian government intended to take down the week of emerging infections, except for essential commands, to stay home for the weekend of three days. Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government did allow one visit to family or friends a day in residents' home regions over the weekend, including the national holiday Monday.

Italy allows religious ceremonies in the pandemic if quantity is limited and masks are worn. But early on, the predominantly Roman Catholic country's many churches were only open to individual prayers.

Hundreds of Catholics marched in St. John's Cathedral. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota, gathered for the Easter vigil service Saturday night. Every other pew was kept empty, and masks were obligatory. The solemn liturgy was nevertheless a new, hopeful start for the congregation after a turbulent year.

After all the virtual Easter services last year, the St. Patrick's Cathedral I A New York city half full for Sunday's Mass. Worshipers have haunted the vaulted neo-Gothic cathedral, which offers more than 2,000 seats. The choir sang through masks.

In Detroit, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church opened for the first time in more than a year for personal Easter services, with capacity constraints and such.

Rules that apply remotely. Rev. Charles Christian Adams said the Detroit Free Press that people require a church, particularly after the congregation lost at least 14 members to COVID-19.

Tonee Carpio said that physically in the St. Vincent de Paul Church in Austin, Texas, means a lot to her after services were only offered online last year. She said it helps the church to keep her Filipino culture alive in her city, as there are prayers in her native Tagalog.

"When you're inside a church, you become more solemn; you can focus on God," she said.

In Florida, Eastgate Christian Fellowship in Panama City Beach hosted its annual dawn service on the beach. The church had to cancel the service last year because all beaches were shut. Pastor Janelle Green expected that about 400 people participated.

Robin Bay of Palm Bay was planning to drive her mother to Orlando on Sunday to get another dose of vaccine at a federal emergency agency.

"She gets that freedom on the same day that (people go to church) to make Jesus rise, and that's why I said to her, 'It's like you got up too,'" Fox said.