The Christian community in Bahrain is preparing to celebrate Easter, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death – symbolising hope and renewal.
Churches across the kingdom will hold special prayer services, sharing messages of peace and resilience amid the uncertainty created by the Iranian attacks in the region, which began a month ago.
Easter this year falls on April 5. Masses will also be celebrated today for Good Friday, and were preceded by Maundy Thursday services yesterday.
St Christopher’s Cathedral in Manama will hold its Easter vigil at 7pm, followed by Easter Sunday Sunrise service at 5am for the Tamil community. Easter Sunday Family Service will take place at 11am and Easter Sunday Evensong service at 6.30pm.
There will be an Easter Sunday Family Service at Awali Church at 9.30am. This will be preceded by the annual traditional Easter egg hunt for young children – the highlight of the Awali Church’s celebrations for many years, with volunteers hiding chocolate eggs in different corners of the church premises.
St Christopher’s Anglican Cathedral associate priest Father Franklin Isaac, who will be conducting the service at Awali, shared his message of peace and hope with the community.
“Easter is more than remembrance; it is a sacred invitation – to discover hope in the midst of despair, light within darkness, and life where all seems fragile,” said the Indian priest, who is also the Mission to Seafarers chaplain.
“In a world marked by uncertainty, Easter reminds us that fear does not define us, nor does uncertainty determine our destiny. We are called to trust in God who brings life out of death, hope out of despair, and peace out of chaos.
“This hope lives among us – in acts of kindness, in words that heal, in communities that stand together, and in the quiet courage of those who choose faith each day. It is seen in all who serve and protect, and in every heart that refuses to surrender to fear.
“May the joy of the resurrection fill our hearts, strengthen our spirits, and guide us forward in faith,” he added.
Fr Franklin expressed his appreciation for the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and commended the dedicated efforts of the defence forces and social service organisations.
St Mary’s Indian Orthodox Cathedral (SMIOC) will conduct its service tomorrow from 6pm to 11pm at its premises in Salmaniya. The SMIOC congregation comprises around 2,000 families.
National Evangelical Church (NEC) in Manama, the oldest church in the kingdom, will conduct its Easter Sunrise Service at 5.30am. The mass will also be broadcast live on the institution’s YouTube channel for those who wish to attend remotely.
Since the Iranian attacks began, authorities have discouraged public gatherings for safety reasons, prompting some churches to adopt online or hybrid services.
NEC pastor Reverend Hani Aziz previously noted that a council comprising NEC members was formed and a unanimous decision was taken to conduct both online and in-person services. However, parishioners have been instructed that prayers inside the church should be limited to one hour, after which everyone must disperse promptly and avoid gathering on the premises.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manama will also have a hybrid format for its main Easter vigil service at 6.30pm tomorrow. The mass conducted at the church premises will be broadcast live on its YouTube channel. Easter Sunday in-person masses in English will be held at 7am, 8.30am, 10am, 5.30pm and 7pm, and those in other languages, including Arabic, Bangla, French, Malayalam, Sinhalese, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Urdu will be held across various locations within the church premises on the same day.
Meanwhile, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia will conduct Easter vigil in Arabic at 4.15pm, followed by English mass at 7.30pm and Malayalam mass at 11.30pm, all at its premises in Awali. Easter Sunday services in English will take place at 7am and 7pm.
Every year, thousands of Catholics gather at the Sacred Heart School grounds in Isa Town to celebrate the festival. Many people of other faiths are also known to attend to get a feel of the occasion. However, due to the current scenario, there will be no mass held at the school premises this year.
Sharing his message of love, the apostolic vicar of Northern Arabia Bishop Aldo Berardi said: “For many, Easter represents renewal, resilience and the enduring belief that hope can prevail even in challenging times. Across generations, this occasion has carried a message of encouragement, reminding us all that periods of difficulty can give way to new beginnings.
“It is a time that invites reflection, not only on faith, but also on shared values of compassion, understanding and unity.
“As we observe this season, may it be an opportunity to strengthen our sense of community, support one another and look ahead with optimism, towards peace.”
Bahrain is home to 150,000 Catholics, with around 12 per cent of the kingdom’s population identifying as Christian.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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