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In pictures: Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter

Orthodox Christians are gathering around the world to celebrate Easter.

Followers mark their faith's most important festival day on 28 April, one week after fellow Christians.

The different dates arise from use of the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar.

News imageAFP/Getty Orthodox Christians in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in JerusalemAFP/Getty
Believers marked the occasion in the same way they have for centuries in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
News imageAFP/Getty Orthodox Christians holding candles aloft in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in JerusalemAFP/Getty
The ceremony involves "sacred fire" appearing from two cavities on either side of the Holy Sepulchre
News imageAFP/Getty A Russian pilgrim wearing a crown of thorns in Jerusalem ahead of Orthodox EasterAFP/Getty
Some pilgrims wore a "crown of thorns" in Jerusalem's Old City
News imageEPA Greek Orthodox Christians carrying the epitaph in water on Good FridayEPA
In Greece on Friday, Orthodox Christians performed a procession in the sea
News imageAFP/Getty Greeks mark the Epitaph ceremony on Friday ahead of Orthodox EasterAFP/Getty
People throughout Greece celebrated Good Friday with religious icons and services
News imageReuters A member of the Greek Orthodox clergy at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old CityReuters
A member of the Greek Orthodox clergy at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City
News imageEPA The head of the Bosnian Serb Orthodox Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina conducts an Easter serviceEPA
The head of the Bosnian Serb Orthodox Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina conducts an Easter service
News imageEPA A priest blesses Orthodox believers during an Easter ceremony at St George Church in IstanbulEPA
A priest blesses Orthodox believers during an Easter ceremony at St George Church in Istanbul
News imageGetty Images Christians attend an Orthodox Easter service in the Kurdish-controlled city of Qamishli in north-eastern SyriaGetty Images
Christians attend an Orthodox Easter service in the Kurdish-controlled city of Qamishli in north-eastern Syria
News imageAFP A North Macedonian Orthodox priest leads a midnight Easter service in the village of KalishtaAFP
A North Macedonian Orthodox priest leads a midnight Easter service in the village of Kalishta
News imageEPA Ukrainians light candles with the Holy Fire during an Orthodox Easter Mass at St Volodymir Cathedral in KievEPA
Ukrainians light candles with the Holy Fire during an Orthodox Easter Mass at St Volodymir Cathedral in Kiev
News imageEPA A Ukrainian priest (R) blesses believers waiting for the start of an Orthodox Easter Mass with baskets of painted eggs and kulichi, a traditional Easter cake, near St. Volodymir Cathedral in KievEPA
A Ukrainian priest (R) blesses believers waiting for the start of an Orthodox Easter Mass with baskets of painted eggs and kulichi, a traditional Easter cake, in Kiev
News imageAFP Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III (C) leads the Easter Sunday traditional procession toward the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old CityAFP
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III (C) leads the Easter Sunday traditional procession toward the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City
News imageAFP A young girl closes her eyes as she and other Serbian Orthodox Christians hold candles during a midnight Easter service at a monastery in the village of SukovoAFP
A young girl closes her eyes as she and other Serbian Orthodox Christians hold candles during a midnight Easter service at a monastery in the village of Sukovo

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