At least 54 Christians were killed early Easter in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, many during worship, with dozens more abducted from Evangelical Church Winning All Souls and other sites, International Christian Concern reported.
Read MoreAhead of Easter, newsrooms often chase predictable religion stories, but recent reporting highlights a more complex reality. While Catholic and Orthodox churches are seeing notable increases in converts, broader trends show ongoing decline in attendance and affiliation. The result is not a single revival, but a fragmented landscape of growth and loss.
Read More(PHOTO ESSAY) About 200 Catholic workers in Bangladesh’s Zirani industrial area marked Good Friday by staging the Way of the Living Cross. Despite demanding jobs, mostly in garment factories, they practiced and performed the devotion, reflecting their strong faith. In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Easter Sunday is not an official holiday.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In April 1300, Dante Alighieri stepped into a dark wood and started walking. He didn’t pick that time of year by accident. Holy Week — the week Christians set aside to remember death and resurrection — is precisely when the Italian began his tour of the afterlife in his epic poem “The Divine Comedy.”
Read MoreAt least 53 Nigerians were killed in three Palm Sunday attacks in predominantly Christian communities in North Central Nigeria. Not all of the victims were Christians in the deadliest attack when at least 30 people were killed and several others hospitalized, Open Doors UK reported. But all attacks occurred in areas known to be predominantly or significantly Christian, with a Voice of the Martyrs field worker describing the Jos community as “100 percent Christian.”
Read More(ANALYSIS) In war-torn Iraq, Muslims will join Christians in celebrating Easter every year, fostering a spirit of solidarity and coexistence. The celebrations have gained prominence since ISIS was forced out of major strongholds. Around 140,000 Christians in Baghdad, Mosul, the disputed territory of Nineveh plains celebrate Lent, which culminates with Easter Sunday.
Read More(REVIEW) Easter traditions like hot cross buns and chocolate eggs are widely enjoyed, but their deeper Christian meaning is often overlooked. Sister Liz Dodd’s book “Easter in Disguise” urges a return to the festival’s spiritual roots, encouraging reflection on justice, peace and radical discipleship during Lent and Holy Week.
Read MorePassover plans this April 1 are a tossup for Israel, including the nation’s 20,000 to 30,000 Christians.
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