This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown

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This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
Church at Neelasandra being closed on the eve of Good Friday during the nationwide lockdown in the wake of novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic, in Bengaluru on April 9, 2020IANS

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  • Coronavirus pandemic forces churches across India to remain shut on Good Friday.
  • Yet, individuals were seen paying their respects from outside closed doors across the country.
  • Priests urged their parishioners to stay at home and pray in view of the ongoing lockdown.
The Coronavirus pandemic has forced churches across India to remain closed on Good Friday as public gatherings are in violation of the nationwide lockdown. However, people are still coming out to pay their respects outside closed doors in commemoration of Jesus Christs’ crucifixion and his death at Calvary.

This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
An individual prays infront of closed St.Anthony church on occasion of Good Friday during lockdown due to Covid-19 at Maharanipeta in Visakhapatnam on April 10BCCL

In India, Christianity is the third-large religion after Hinduism and Islam with approximately 28 million followers, as per the 2011 Census. Good Friday is a nationwide public holiday when many Christians attend special church services.

In Andhra Pradesh, individuals were seen paying their respects from outside St. Anthony’s Church in Visakhapatnam today morning, April 10.

This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
An individual stops his bike to pray infront of closed St.Anthony church on Good Friday during lockdown due to Covid-19 at Maharanipeta in Visakhapatnam on April 10BCCL

Devotees were also seen praying in front of the Trinity Lutheran Church at Jagadamba Junction in Visakhapatnam.
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This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
Women pray infront of closed Trinity Lutheran Church on occasion of Good Friday during lockdown due to Covid-19 at Jagadamba Junction in Visakhapatnam on April 10BCCL

Even in Karnataka’s capital city, Bengaluru, followers were seen praying outside a church in Neelasandra.

This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
Church at Neelasandra being closed on the eve of Good Friday during the nationwide lockdown in the wake of novel coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic, in Bengaluru on April 9, 2020IANS

In Chennai, a priest was spotted giving a sermon in a deserted church on Good Friday. However, in some parts of the city people have been allowed to come to Church but are discouraged from kissing the Cross. They have also been advised to say Namaste instead of shaking hands as a sign of peace.

This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
A priest in Chennai offers prayers to a deserted Church hallIANS

Another priest embraced social media to broadcast mass on live video using Youtube in order to enforce social distance during the lockdown at the Methodist Church in Bhandup in Mumbai on Good Friday.

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This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
A priest in Mumbai gives sermon over YouTube during the Coronavirus lockdownBCCL

Last week, in Aurangabad, the traditional procession that normally takes place a week before Easter Sunday was called off due to the lockdown. Spiritual leaders appealed locals to stay at home and pray to enforce social distancing.

This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
The traditional procession carried out on the Sunday before Easter Sunday to commemorate the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem has been cancelled by all churches in Aurangabad's Marathwada in view of the ongoing lockdownBCCL

A similar scene was observed outside the Cathedral in Melapudur in Trichy which lay deserted on Palm Sunday. Normally, it hosts a large gathering in commemoration.

This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
St Mary's Cathedral in Melapudur gives a deserted look because of the lockdown on Palm SundayBCCL

At the Jeevamatha Church in Mattancherry in Kerala’s Kochi district, priests offer mass by placing palm leaves — one on every chair — to represent each of the households, which are a part of its parish.

This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
Priests offer mass inside a vacant Jeevamatha Church at Mattancherry on Palm SundayBCCL

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At the Saint Francis Assisi Cathedral in Kochi, archbishop Joseph Kalathiparampi also offered prayers — but without the participation of its members.

This Good Friday, people pray outside closed church doors due to Coronavirus lockdown
Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparampil, head of the Varappuzha archdiocese, engaged in Palm Sunday rituals at the St. Francis Assisi Cathedral in Kochi BCCL

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