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Easter today

* Lahore Bishop says Easter ‘feast of victory’ over sin and death

By Ali Usman

LAHORE: Churches across the city are holding special services - lighting candles and other activities - to mark Easter on Sunday (today).

Christians celebrate Easter by performing several rituals keeping in view the basic concept of the holiday – the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the church’s birth. Easter is considered the most important religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. Special dishes are also cooked to commemorate the day.

Victory: Lahore Bishop Dr Alexander John Malik said Easter was the ‘feast of victory’ over sin and death. He said it was also feast of love, tolerance and peace. He said Jesus, through resurrection, emerged triumphant over the demonic forces of evil and death. He said Easter provided hope to everyone struggling against the forces of evil and injustice, adding that the struggle would be fruitful even through death. He strongly urged Christians to join hands with everyone of kindred intentions, struggling for dignity, liberty and equality of human beings. He prayed for peace, progress, prosperity and solidarity of the country.

Lahore Archdiocese Vicar General Father Andrew Nasari said special prayers would be held for peace across the country, adding that the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church would hold a midnight service at 11pm on Saturday. He said an Easter Service would be held during the day from 8am to 2pm, adding that Easter celebrations began a week ago on Palm Sunday - the day Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time. He said the Roman government had been worried as the Romans had started to perceive Jesus as a king. Jesus had informed them that his preaching was about the heavenly kingdom that had nothing to do with this world. Nasari said Palm Sunday was followed by Holy Thursday – Jesus’ last supper with his disciples before getting arrested. He said at the supper, Jesus established priesthood and gave the sacrament of Eucharist. He said: “Jesus also washed the feet of his disciples and set the example of humility and service.” He said Jesus was crucified after getting arrested on Friday, adding that Easter is the Sunday he was raised from the dead.

Sumaira Naz, a Christian student, said she would go to the Church to attend the midnight service, adding that every Christian lit their candle from the Father’s candle. She said this was a symbolic representation of ‘Jesus shows the light to all’. Peace activist Nadeem Anthony said the day marked the message of peace and harmony, adding that special prayers for peace were made on the day.

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