NKR: Easter services held behind closed doors

Because of coronavirus threat, Easter services in churches and temples of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) are held behind closed doors. All the Easter church ceremonies at the Church of the Protection of God's Mother in Stepanakert are broadcasted on the local TV channel.

Pargev Martirosyan, the Archbishop of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has noted that the decision to hold church services behind closed doors was made for the safety of parishioners. He has added that at the end of the Easter Eve's service, a lampad, symbolizing the divine light, was brought out into the church yard, so that parishioners could light their candles from the sacred fire and take them home.

The press service of the Artsakh Diocese has informed that the doors of the churches will be open in the following days, and believers can receive blessing.

Arthur Gabrielyan, a resident of Stepanakert, said that he usually attends church services, but today he made an exception. "Since the church has called for self-isolation, my family watched the service live on air," he explained.

Silva Vanyan has noted that "coronavirus problem has outweighed all other concerns."