In most churches, the service was celebrated exactly as on Pascha night, with the chanting of “Come receive the light,” the Paschal Gospel reading, and the catechetical homily of St. John Chrysostom.
According to information from the Holy Mountain, at the beginning, 15 people will be allowed for each of the ruling monasteries, while the sketes will be limited to 5 people.
Amid lingering pandemic concerns, the church is capping access to 50 people at a time and requires that they be free of fever and wear protective masks.
Unable to work or farm during the already two months of quarantine, many families are greatly suffering, having nothing to eat at all.
Pilgrims and parishioners were denied entry on Sunday, to their great disappointment.