​​Easter weekend in focus: Holy prayers and moments of enlightenment around the world​

Amid the solemn observance of Holy Week, a Catholic altar server in Lucknow, India, swung an incense censer, allowing the fragrant smoke to rise and permeate the sanctuary. The ritual symbolizes the ascent of prayers, creating a sacred atmosphere. (Image: ANI)

Pope Francis, warmly welcomed by cardinals and clergy at the Vatican, offers a gentle smile while arriving in his wheelchair during a public gathering. The scene marked a powerful moment of unity, faith within the heart of the Catholic Church. (Image: AP)

A Greek Orthodox priest solemnly carried a wooden cross during the Holy Passion service at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey — a powerful moment of devotion and remembrance in the heart of the Christian tradition. (Image: AP)

In reverent humility, a priest bows before the Ecumenical Patriarch during the Holy Week rites at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul — a sacred gesture echoing centuries of Orthodox devotion and spiritual tradition. (Image: AP)

A woman in traditional attire received Holy Communion during the Last Supper Mass at the Catholic Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite in Athens, Greece, marking a solemn moment of shared faith and devotion. (Image: AP)

Two women dressed in traditional attire intricately paint Easter eggs at an Easter Market in Schleife, Germany. Surrounded by curious onlookers, their artistry and devotion turn simple shells into colorful symbols of culture, faith, and the joy of Easter. (Image: AP)

In Seville, Spain, hooded penitents participated in the solemn Holy Week procession. Clad in traditional robes and pointed hoods, they carried candles and crosses—an enduring symbol of Spanish religious tradition and spiritual reflection passed down through generations. (Image: AP)

At the Maria Auxiliadora embroidery workshop in San Miguel Escobar, Guatemala, skilled weavers meticulously apply gold-toned embellishments to a ceremonial tunic, preserving sacred tradition through artistry, devotion, and cultural craftsmanship. (Image: AP)