Ukraine marks Orthodox Easter with prayers for those trapped

By CARA ANNA and INNA VARENYTSIA
Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The sun came out as Ukrainians marked Orthodox Easter in Kyiv with prayers for those fighting on the front lines and others trapped beyond them. The Orthodox church is split by the tensions between Russia and Ukraine. But some worshippers hoped the holy day on Sunday could inspire gestures of peacemaking. Many brought baskets to be blessed by priests, with flicks of holy water over offerings of home-dyed eggs, lighted candles and even bottles of Jack Daniel’s. The Easter holiday came as Ukraine prepares for the first trip by high-level U.S. officials to Kyiv since before the Russian invasion began. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked his Western allies for heavier weapons to fend off Russian troops.