Russia declares ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Easter this weekend
The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has announced a ceasefire with Ukraine for Easter, which is observed this weekend by the Orthodox church, using a different liturgical calendar to churches in the west (explainer here). The Kremlin said the ceasefire would start at 1600 on Saturday 11 April and end at midnight on Easter Sunday 12 April. Kyiv Independent reports that Ukraine had also proposed an end to hostilities over Easter as early as 30 March, but this was rejected by Russia at the time. It welcomes Russia’s announcement. In Ukraine there are two Orthodox churches, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine aligned with Constantinople, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate, and both celebrate Easter this weekend.
In Britain there are an estimated 500,000 Orthodox church members, the largest group is Romanian Orthodox, followed by Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Serbian. Easter services feature a midnight paschal mass on Easter Saturday, with lights and processions and all night vigils.
Bishop of Salisbury steps back while financial audit takes place
The Bishop of Salisbury, Stephen Lake, has stepped back voluntarily from his role while a financial audit takes place, and he has also resigned as a trustee of the Church Commissioners, according to the Church Times. In an article by James McIntyre, a spokesperson for the Church of England is quoted saying: “An ongoing financial audit is being undertaken following allegations of potential financial irregularities in relation to two separate funds.” A statement from the diocese of Salisbury is also quoted: “These funds relate to the office of the Bishop of Salisbury but are separate from parish share and other funds controlled by the Diocesan Board of Finance.” The Bishop of Sherborne, Karen Gorham, will act as diocesan bishop. Full story is here.
Holy sites re-open in Jerusalem
The holy sites in Jerusalem – Al- Aqsa mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall – have been opened to worshippers after the announcement of a ceasefire in the war with Iran. Israeli police had ordered them to shut for large scale public gatherings for security reasons. The 40 days of restrictions included Lent, Easter, Passover and Ramadan. Thousands went to the Al-Aqsa mosque which opened with dawn prayer yesterday, while dozens of people assembled at the Western Wall. The lifting of restrictions means that the celebrations for Orthodox Easter this weekend can continue as usual at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, after major disruption to the observance of Easter by western Christian traditions last weekend. There was an outcry when Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was prevented from entering the church on Palm Sunday, the first time this had happened for centuries.
Aid agencies shocked at attacks on Lebanon, call for end to violence
The US is convening diplomatic talks next week in Washington DC to effect a ceasefire in Lebanon, after 300 people were killed by Israeli attacks, since the US / Iran ceasefire was agreed. More than 1,000 have died since war broke out on 28 February. Tearfund’s country director for Lebanon and Syria, Jaime Abraham, says they are grieving with the people who have lost everything and the air strikes and violence against Lebanese civilians have to stop. Their statement says: “Many tell us they’re terrified and losing hope, as nowhere feels safe – the entire country is under attack. In a week where billions of dollars have been spent to see the dark side of the moon, the dark side of humanity is raining down on Lebanon. Here, rockets are obliterating hundreds of lives every day. It’s savage, it’s senseless and it’s entirely stoppable.”
Sana Basim, Islamic Relief’s head of programmes in Beirut, said the attacks in one day this week were the worst and deadliest ever: “The city is in a state of fear. An Islamic Relief team was distributing aid in a shelter for displaced people when the bombs started around 3 kms away. The strike could be heard in the shelter and the children were crying in terror. Bombs struck near crowded markets and hospitals across the city are overwhelmed with casualties. Blood banks are running short of blood. Busy areas of the city which were previously considered relatively safe were hit without warning and the streets are jammed with traffic as people flee in panic.”
Vatican’s man in the US ‘lectured’ by Defence officials to support the United States
Cardinal Christophe Pierre has declined to comment on reports that US Defence officials summoned him to the Pentagon in January, to give him a “bitter lecture warning that the United States has the military power to do whatever it wants—and that the Church had better take its side”. The Cardinal was Apostolic Nuncio to the United States from 2016 to 2026 and retired on 7 March. The story appeared in “The Free Press”, an American news website, which said the Holy See was a body “whose credibility the American superpower seeks”. It reported that Vatican officials cancelled a planned visit by Pope Leo to the US after the meeting. US Vice President JD Vance was asked about the report on his way back from Hungary, and said he would look into it. Newsweek quotes the Department of Defense saying the account of the meeting was “highly exaggerated and distorted”, adding that “the meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion”. The Cardinal told The Catholic Herald he would not be drawn on the matter, saying simply, “I would prefer not to speak.”
Trump and the Christian right, the ‘Maga-fication of religion in America’
“Secular journalists pay too little attention to the Maga-fication of religion in America brought about by Trump”, according to Sarah Baxter, Director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting. Writing for The Independent, she quotes academic and author of books about Christian nationalism, Matthew D Taylor, saying: “With his oddly coiffed hair, his salesmanship, his bombastic oratory… Trump has parodied the televangelists. For what is Make America Great Again if not a gospel with fire and brimstone threats of ‘American carnage’?” The article picks up comments from his meeting with Christian leaders before Easter, when Franklin Graham said the Iranians were seeking to “kill every Jew and destroy them with an atomic fire”, but “God had raised up President Trump for such a time as this.” His pastor, televangelist Paula White, compared Trump to Jesus, saying he was betrayed, arrested, falsely accused, survived an assassination attempt and rose up. Sarah Baxter concludes: “The gospel according to Trump is not one of forgiveness or turning the other cheek, but one of retribution. It embraces the muscular Christianity and “warrior ethos” of Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War”. The full article is here.
New Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally will offer ‘calm non-anxious leadership’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has given her first interview after her installation, to the editor of the Church Times, Sarah Meyrick. She said: “What I want to offer is a consistency: a calm, non-anxious leadership. I see myself as a shepherd, as somebody who supports and provides pastoral care”. In a wide ranging interview, she describes the events of the past three weeks – her pilgrimage, installation and Easter – as “wonderful and overwhelming”, with “God moments” within the cathedral and small rural churches. The first woman to hold this role, she arrives with a CV including a career as chief nursing officer, and as a bishop in a rural diocese and London, and says: “I’m a great believer that God calls us to particular times and places because of the gifts that we have.” Report is here.
Open Doors reports more than 30 Christians killed in Nigeria on Easter Sunday
Open Doors, a charity monitoring Christian persecution, says at least 33 people were killed and many more kidnapped in attacks over the Easter weekend in northern Nigeria. There have already been reports that up to seven people were killed and 31 kidnapped at a church in Kaduna State on Easter Sunday. But the charity reports further stories of 26 killed among Christian communities in Benue state on the same day. It also says that 27 were killed in a Palm Sunday service in Plateau State, after which a curfew was put in place restricting movement.
Cathedral hosts 80 metre knitted exhibition of World War II at home
An 80 metre long hand knitted exhibition, showing scenes of British life during World War II, is to be on display at Lichfield Cathedral in May. Called “The Longest Yarn 2: Britain at War”, it has small knitted and crocheted people and buildings, created by knitters across the world, in scenes showing working on the Home Front, meals at a time of rationing, evacuation, the Blitz, wartime headlines and the jubilation of peace. The exhibition also includes The Longest Yarn’slife-sized “Army of Duty Calls” figures, depicting those who served both at home and on the front line. The exhibition follows the success of The Longest Yarn’s debut project The Longest Day, created to mark the 80th anniversary of D‑Day and viewed by more than 250,000 visitors. “Britain at War” will tour the country over two years, details on the website here.
