Serbian Orthodox Christians attend Easter service

Serbian Christians celebrated Orthodox Easter on Sunday with dozens of worshippers attending mass in St. Sava Church in Belgre, garing inside an ornate temple embellished with Orthodox style icons and chandeliers.

Although choir wore face masks as y performed, many in congregation did not and stood side by side during service in Serbian capital.

After vaccinating some 1.5 million people, Serbia has eased measures against coronavirus despite high numbers of infections and a slowdown in vaccination.

Patriarch Porfirije, he of Serbian Orthodox Church, led morning mass.

Last year, 90-year-old Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej died after testing positive for coronavirus.

Irinej was hospitalised with virus early in November, soon after attending funeral of he of Orthodox Church in Montenegro, Bishop Amfilohije, who also died from virus.

Easter represents a period of hope for Orthodox Christians - a time when, nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ was said to have risen from grave after dying for sins of humanity.