The coronavirus pandemic has affected many celebrations around the world and this weekend orthodox Christians are observing Easter, their biggest holiday. In many Christian countries, a few worshippers came out for the festivities. Let's take a global look at how Easter is getting celebrated around the world.&nbsp;

Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, led an Easter service in Moscow's biggest cathedral, Christ the Saviour. Due to the coronavirus threat, the public was not allowed to attend the service this year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-way-wuhan-lab-director-rejects-coronavirus-origins-from-its-facility-293358">'No way': Wuhan lab director rejects coronavirus origins from its facility</a>

Dozens went to Main Sameba cathedral in the Tbilisi, Georgia, where the 87-year-old Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II held the service. Most of the people, including the priests&nbsp;wore masks during the service.&nbsp;

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Orthodox Greeks observed Easter mass in front of TV screens instead of visiting churchers as Greece's archbishop conducted the mass to an empty cathedral due to the coronavirus lockdown. Greece tightened lockdown measures for the Easter holiday, prohibiting people from leaving their place of residence to visit friends and family. &nbsp;

Across the capital, lights were on inside homes as the public respected the lockdown.&nbsp;

Orthodox Belarusians brought traditional Easter food to be blessed in the capital Minsk, despite the coronavirus threat. After the service, which was held inside the church, as usual, priests went outside to sprinkle holy water on Easter cakes and painted eggs as they do every Easter but with much fewer people presented this time.

The country's President Alexander Lukashenko, who is in power since 1994, has been skeptical about the need for strong action to curb the spread of the virus. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
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The coronavirus pandemic has affected many celebrations around the world and this weekend orthodox Christians are observing Easter, their biggest holiday. In many Christian countries, a few worshippers came out for the festivities.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected many celebrations around the world and this weekend orthodox Christians are observing Easter, their biggest holiday. In many Christian countries, a few worshippers came out for the festivities. Let's take a global look at how Easter is getting celebrated around the world. Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, led an Easter service in Moscow's biggest cathedral, Christ the Saviour. Due to the coronavirus threat, the public was not allowed to attend the service this year. Also read | 'No way': Wuhan lab director rejects coronavirus origins from its facility Dozens went to Main Sameba cathedral in the Tbilisi, Georgia, where the 87-year-old Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II held the service. Most of the people, including the priests wore masks during the service. Also read | Coronavirus: Spain extends lockdown by two weeks as death toll tops 20,000 Orthodox Greeks observed Easter mass in front of TV screens instead of visiting churchers as Greece's archbishop conducted the mass to an empty cathedral due to the coronavirus lockdown. Greece tightened lockdown measures for the Easter holiday, prohibiting people from leaving their place of residence to visit friends and family. Across the capital, lights were on inside homes as the public respected the lockdown. Orthodox Belarusians brought traditional Easter food to be blessed in the capital Minsk, despite the coronavirus threat. After the service, which was held inside the church, as usual, priests went outside to sprinkle holy water on Easter cakes and painted eggs as they do every Easter but with much fewer people presented this time. The country's President Alexander Lukashenko, who is in power since 1994, has been skeptical about the need for strong action to curb the spread of the virus.

Amid coronavirus pandemic, how world celebrated Easter

Virus-stricken British Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked medics for saving his life after leaving hospital on Easter Sunday, as hundreds of millions of Christians observed the holiday under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

More than half of humanity is confined at home as governments scramble to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 112,500 lives around the world.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-video-message-uk-pm-says-medics-saved-his-life-as-he-battled-covid-19-292134" hreflang="en">In video message, UK PM says medics saved his life as he battled COVID-19</a>

More than 1.8 million people have been infected but glimmers of hope were emerging that the worst may be behind -- especially in Europe, where hard-hit Italy recorded its lowest death toll in three weeks and fatalities fell in France.

Johnson, the highest-profile leader to contract the virus characterised by high fevers and coughing, voiced confidence that Britain would beat the pandemic in a candid video message after he was&nbsp;discharged from a state-run National Health Service (NHS)&nbsp;hospital.&nbsp;

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"I hope they won't mind if I mention in particular two nurses who stood by my bedside for 48 hours when things could have gone either way," said 55-year-old Johnson, who was admitted on April 5 to a London hospital where he spent three days in intensive care.

In a suit and tie but visibly worn, Johnson said he was discharged after "a week in which the NHS has saved my life, no question."&nbsp;

Even as Johnson headed to a country estate to rest before returning to work, Britain passed the grim milestone of 10,000 deaths.

Johnson, like US President Donald Trump, had initially resisted stringent measures such as shutting down public places.

The United States has since recorded the world's highest death toll at more than 22,020.

Virus-stricken British Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked medics for saving his life after leaving hospital on Easter Sunday, as hundreds of millions of Christians observed the holiday under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Virus-stricken British Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked medics for saving his life after leaving hospital on Easter Sunday, as hundreds of millions of Christians observed the holiday under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than half of humanity is confined at home as governments scramble to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 112,500 lives around the world. Also read: In video message, UK PM says medics saved his life as he battled COVID-19 More than 1.8 million people have been infected but glimmers of hope were emerging that the worst may be behind -- especially in Europe, where hard-hit Italy recorded its lowest death toll in three weeks and fatalities fell in France. Johnson, the highest-profile leader to contract the virus characterised by high fevers and coughing, voiced confidence that Britain would beat the pandemic in a candid video message after he was discharged from a state-run National Health Service (NHS) hospital. Also read: Britons lose £1.8 million as cyber-conning becomes rampant in the country "I hope they won't mind if I mention in particular two nurses who stood by my bedside for 48 hours when things could have gone either way," said 55-year-old Johnson, who was admitted on April 5 to a London hospital where he spent three days in intensive care. In a suit and tie but visibly worn, Johnson said he was discharged after "a week in which the NHS has saved my life, no question." Even as Johnson headed to a country estate to rest before returning to work, Britain passed the grim milestone of 10,000 deaths. Johnson, like US President Donald Trump, had initially resisted stringent measures such as shutting down public places. The United States has since recorded the world's highest death toll at more than 22,020.

UK's Johnson leaves hospital as millions mark Easter in lockdown

Pope Francis prayed for tens of thousands of coronavirus victims in an unprecedented livestream Easter Sunday message delivered from a hauntingly empty Vatican to a world under lockdown.

The 83-year-old pontiff spoke softly at a ceremony attended by just a handful of priests and a small choir that was spaced out across the expansive marble floor of Saint Peter's Basilica.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-over-21300-coronavirus-deaths-us-spends-easter-sunday-on-lockdown-292129" hreflang="en">With over 21,300 coronavirus deaths, US spends Easter Sunday on lockdown</a>

"For many, this is an Easter of solitude lived amid the sorrow and hardship that the pandemic is causing, from physical suffering to economic difficulties," Francis said.

The pandemic raging outside the Vatican's locked gates has killed more than 110,000 people and left billions confined to their homes.

Also see:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/observing-good-friday-during-a-global-lockdown-291734" hreflang="en">Observing Good Friday during a global lockdown</a>

Most of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics were in forced confinement as the pope spoke, and few of the world's churches were open on Christianity's holiest day.

In his homily, the pope called for a global ceasefire and debt relief for the poorest countries.

His message was livestreamed for the first time, a bow to technology in the face of a new illness that has transformed society and altered the way religion is observed.

Around the globe, others followed his advice and found creative solutions.

Pope Francis prayed for tens of thousands of coronavirus victims in an unprecedented livestream Easter Sunday message delivered from a hauntingly empty Vatican to a world under lockdown.

Pope Francis prayed for tens of thousands of coronavirus victims in an unprecedented livestream Easter Sunday message delivered from a hauntingly empty Vatican to a world under lockdown. The 83-year-old pontiff spoke softly at a ceremony attended by just a handful of priests and a small choir that was spaced out across the expansive marble floor of Saint Peter's Basilica. Also read: With over 21,300 coronavirus deaths, US spends Easter Sunday on lockdown "For many, this is an Easter of solitude lived amid the sorrow and hardship that the pandemic is causing, from physical suffering to economic difficulties," Francis said. The pandemic raging outside the Vatican's locked gates has killed more than 110,000 people and left billions confined to their homes. Also see:Observing Good Friday during a global lockdown Most of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics were in forced confinement as the pope spoke, and few of the world's churches were open on Christianity's holiest day. In his homily, the pope called for a global ceasefire and debt relief for the poorest countries. His message was livestreamed for the first time, a bow to technology in the face of a new illness that has transformed society and altered the way religion is observed. Around the globe, others followed his advice and found creative solutions.

Pope marks 'Easter of solitude' in virus lockdown

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Amid coronavirus pandemic, how world celebrated Easter

UK's Johnson leaves hospital as millions mark Easter in lockdown

Pope marks 'Easter of solitude' in virus lockdown