The sun came out as Ukrainians marked Orthodox Easter in the capital, Kyiv, on Sunday with prayers for those fighting on the front lines and others trapped beyond them in places like Mariupol.
Hundreds of worshippers with baskets were invited to the Cathedral to be blessed. A woman kissed a soldier's elbow as she clutched his arm. Other soldiers held candles and crossed themselves. An older woman slowly made her way through the crowd. A woman is holding daffodils.
Mykhailo, a soldier who only gave his first name, used his helmet as an Easter basket outside the cathedral. He said he did not have another.
He said he hoped he would only have to use the helmet.
President Zelenskyy told Ukrainians not to let anger at the war overwhelm them.
He said that all of us believe the sunrise will come soon.
The spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians called for the opening of humanitarian corridors in the country.
The spiritual leader of the world spoke at midnight Mass in Istanbul. He is considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, which gives him prominence, but not the power of a Catholic pope.
Serhii, a man who gave only his first name, said that the church could help if the tensions between Russia and Ukraine were to abate.
He and others brought baskets to be blessed by priests for Easter, with flicks of a brush sprinkling holy water over offerings of home-dyed eggs, lighted candles and even bottles of Jack Daniel's.
The residents of the rural villages that were ravaged by the war prepared for the holiday with defiance.
"We will celebrate Easter no matter what, no matter how bad it is," said Kateryna Lazarenko, in the northern village of Ivanivka outside Chernihiv, where ruined Russian tanks still littered the roads.
How do I feel? Olena said that everyone is very nervous and that the Easter holiday doesn't bring any joy. I am crying a lot. We can't forget how we lived.
She and 12 other people were sheltered in the basement of her home by the Russian soldiers.
In eastern Ukraine, the scene of Russia's latest offensive, worshippers expressed unease along with hope for negotiations.
Aleksandra Papravkina said that God will make them understand and that they will reach an agreement.
After Zelenskyy said he would meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Kyiv on Sunday,Ukraine prepared for the first high-level U.S. trip to Kyiv since before the war began.
Zelenskyy in a news conference Saturday night gave few details but said he expected results, not just presents or some kind of cakes.
Pope Francis wants an Easter truce. Without naming the attackers, Francis urged them to stop the attack to help the exhausted people.
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