Greeks prepare for muted Easter under extra lockdown measures

Greece is preparing for a muted Orthodox Easter this year after the authorities strictly forbade the traditional spirited celebrations of mass church attendance, firecrackers and large family gatherings.

Greece introduced a lockdown to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus four weeks ago, and so far the restrictions appear to have been effective. As of Thursday, officials reported 2,192 cases and 102 deaths, one of the lowest rates in Europe.

But compliance will be tested during the Easter celebrations in coming days, when hundreds of thousands of Greeks traditionally flock to churches and to their ancestral homes to celebrate Christ's resurrection.

"In the years that I have been alive I have never seen anything like it. We have been through wars - Churches were always open," said Bishop Ierotheos, spokesman of the Church, which has said it supports the...