Catholic liturgy

The Islamic State (IS/Daesh) crucified an Indian Christian Catholic priest on Good Friday, according to the Washington Times. Reverend Thomas Uzhunnalil was working for Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity and was kidnapped in a raid in Yemen earlier this month.

Turkey's Catholic, Armenian and Protestant communities celebrated Easter Sunday in various cities across the country on March 27, amid tight security measures taken by the police against possible attacks against the religious minority groups. 

Pope Francis urged the world in his Easter message on March 27 to use the "weapons of love" to combat the evil of "blind and brutal violence," following the attacks in Brussels. 

After a week of somber religious events commemorating Jesus' death, Francis said an Easter Sunday Mass under tight security for tens of thousands of people in a sun-drenched St. Peter's Square. 

Epiphany Day, also known as Theofania or Fota, is celebrated across Greece each year on January 6 commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, according to the Orthodox Church and the banishing of the mischievous Kalikantzaroi back to the hollow earth, according to popular belief.

Pope Francis on Dec. 8 launched an extraordinary Catholic Jubilee year by opening a "Holy Door" in the walls of St Peter's, embracing a 700-year-old tradition while urging the Church to reach out and embrace the modern world with mercy.

Some European Christian Churches are altering their places of worship to accommodate the arrival of refugees from conflict areas. Adjustments include removing the altars, even crucifixes, from their places of worship.

In a message sent on Thursday on the occasion of Heroes' Day, President Klaus Iohannis says that the way the heroes unconditionally served their country is an example worth following to the future generations.

Photo credit: (c) Silviu MATEI / AGERPRES PHOTO

Traditional Greek Orthodox Easter was combined with Cyclades chic on over the weekend on Mykonos, one of Greece's handful of islands where international jet-setters, celebrities and party animals holiday together.
In retaining one very Grecian Easter Sunday custom, lambs on spits were roasted on the famous beach of Psarrou, next to beach chairs and umbrellas

Bright Week is the first week that follows the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ and ends the next Sunday, which is also called "St.

On the occasion of the Easter Feast, President Klaus Iohannis sent Orthodox and Greek Catholic believers a message of peace and joy, stressing that closeness with one's fellow humans through compassion and solidarity is the key to our rebirth as a society of dignified and responsible people.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES ARCHIVE