Eastern Christians Mark Easter In Shuttered Jerusalem Church

JERUSALEM (AP) – Eastern Orthodox clergy have marked Easter in Jerusalem at a Church of the Holy Sepulcher devoid of worshipers due to the new coronavirus. Mass was performed at the site where many Christians believe Jesus was entombed and rose from the dead after his crucifixion. Ordinarily, the church would be filled with faithful and tourists. But travel restrictions imposed by Israel to prevent the spread of the virus have prevented the arrival of pilgrims to Jerusalem for the springtime holiday and limited the gathering of worshipers at the church. In Egypt, Coptic Christian leaders held mass at a remote desert monastery as restrictions prevented the assembly of worshipers at churches.