Easter, Passover, Ramadan — how can the faithful fulfill their religious obligations when large gatherings are forbidden due to the coronavirus. Sabine Kinkartz says it's possible, but it requires a bit of creativity.
Advertisement
Public religious ceremonies have been banned, but the doors to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Berlin's Charlottenburg district are wide open. The church wants to remain open during these trying times to give the faithful a quiet place to pray — individually of course. Still, it is important to maintain the idea of congregation, so the parish has found other ways to bring people together.
On a table at the rear of the church are schedules for online masses. These include weekly readings and hymns, and explain how parish members can participate in the services from home. The parish website even has extra audio files featuring organ music for accompaniment. Easter candles, individually packed in cardboard boxes, line the steps in front of the altar; beside them, a few left over fronds from Palm Sunday.
Parishioners also won't have to do without their priest, Father Gerald Tanye, either — they can watch his homilies on the Holy Spirit's new YouTube channel.
The internet is a blessing for many
Although the current pandemic has severely restricted religious life, the internet allows Christians a number of freedoms not available to those practicing other faiths — it makes no difference, for instance, if one prays along with a digital Stations of the Cross procession on Good Friday, or a televised Easter mass. Both the Catholic and Protestant churches are greatly expanding their online presence, and Easter will be no exception. There is one caveat, however: Services must be followed live.
Things are very different for Muslims. Islam dictates that nothing may come between the imam and the faithful during Friday prayers — not even a river or a thick wall. Therefore, says Aiman Mazyek, chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, live broadcasts of Friday prayers are not an option. That means mosques will remain closed and Friday prayers canceled until the coronavirus crisis is over.
Instead, the faithful must now pray at home, an activity that scholars at Al-Azhar University in Egypt — the most important religious school in Sunni Islam — say is not without precedent: "In the Sunna, there were some nights in which the prophet instructed the faithful to pray at home because the situation made community prayer at the mosque impossible," as the university's secretary general, Sheikh Khaled Omran, recently stated in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD.
Though Muslims have to forego Friday prayers, they can still pursue other aspects of religious life online. "Sermons are being posted to YouTube to offer solace and inform the faithful of the latest coronavirus developments. Focus has been shifted online because it has become impossible to speak to one another face to face," as Odette Yilmaz, chairwoman of the Liberal Islam Federation (LIB), told German national broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.
Watching one's health during Ramadan
But what will happen during the holy month of Ramadan, in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset? It is scheduled to begin on the evening of April 23, a time at which strict rules enforcing social distancing will still be in place. That will make gathering with family to break the fast at the end of each day impossible. For Yilmaz, the challenges presented by this new situation will be more of a personal than a religious nature and severely curtail the sense of community.
Another problem facing Muslims is that of fasting during a pandemic. When people don't drink or eat, their bodies become weaker and thus more susceptible to illness and infection. Scholars at Al-Azhar University have given that fact consideration, too, and have concluded that, despite a ban on religous gatherings, people should still fast as the Ramadan ritual had no link to the coronavirus.
Ramadan marks a special time of spiritual discipline and purification for millions of practicing Muslims across the globe. From local traditions to holy rituals, DW examines the religious month of fasting.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Gupta
Ramadan: Islam's holiest month
Every year, millions of practicing Muslims across the world fast, pray and give alms in observance of Islam's holiest month, the exact dates of which change each year. From firing off cannons to lunar sightings, DW explores how Muslims mark the occasion and what it means to the faithful.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Gupta
Moon sighting
The sighting of the new moon of Ramadan is practiced by religious authorities across the globe to determine the beginning of the month of fasting. While some observe the new moon with telescopes, others use the naked eye, which is why Ramadan may begin on different days in certain parts of the world.
Image: picture-alliance/NurPhoto/M. Khairuddin
Prayer
Prayer is often considered a fundamental part of observing the month of fasting. Ramadan traditionally begins with a special prayer known as "Tarawih" on the eve of the holy month. During Ramadan, practicing Muslims generally participate in communal prayer at their local mosque.
Image: picture-alliance/AA
Recitation
The month of fasting represents a period of spiritual discipline and purification. As such, reading and reciting the Quran, Islam's holy book, form an integral part of the traditional rituals observed during Ramadan. The Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/D. Goldman
Local traditions
While Islam offers prescribed rituals to observe during Ramadan, many places have local traditions that coincide with the month of fasting. In Sarajevo, a cannon is traditionally fired to mark the breaking of the fast on each day of Ramadan. In Egypt, displaying a decorated lantern known as a "fanous" is part of the tradition.
Image: picture-alliance/ZUMAPRESS.com
Breaking fast
After a long day without food and water, many Muslims traditionally break their fast with a date, the nutritious fruit with which the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have broken his fast. Afterwards, observing Muslims often partake in a communal dinner known as "iftar."
Image: picture-alliance/AP Images/R. Gul
Eid al-Fitr
The celebration of Eid al-Fitr, or the festival of breaking the fast, marks the official end of Ramadan. From indulging in sweets to offering gifts to loved ones, Muslims celebrate the end of the fasting month with large meals prepared for friends and family. It is considered a joyful time in which to be generous and kind to others.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Belghoul
7 images1 | 7
Celebrating Passover alone?
Yet, not all religions are so flexible. In mid-March, Israel's Supreme Court struck down calls to postpone the Jewish observance of Passover because of the coronavirus. In its ruling, the court said it did not have the authority to declare a leap year and add an extra month to the calendar.
For many Jews, Passover — which commemorates god's delivery of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery — is the holiest religious celebration of the year.
This year, Passover began on the evening of April 8, and will last until April 16. Normally, many people around the world would travel to be with family and celebrate in large groups. That is also the case in Germany, which is home to some 100,000 Jews.
Matzah by mail
But what in life is normal these days? In Germany, the Central Welfare Office of Jews and the Central Council of Jews have joined up to make it possible for the faithful to celebrate at home in isolation. For instance, the ingredients required for the ritual start of traditional Seder meals — such as Matzah and Kiddush wine — can be ordered via parcel delivery, helping those who don't have easy access to kosher foods.
And these days, digital tools are also proving to be a blessing for Jews, who can follow religious services online and hold video chats with family and friends — allowing them to connect with others remotely. It must be said, however, that this is not something that is to be taken for granted, for the use of electricity is strictly forbidden on the Sabbath and on religious holidays.
Passover in pictures: Jews observe holiday of deliverance
Jews around the world are observing Passover, which commemorates the escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This year, it is taking place from April 5 to 13, coinciding with the Christian festival of Easter.
Image: Rafael Ben-Ari/Newscom/picture alliance
Passover: A celebration of freedom
Passover, which is also called Pesach or Pessach, is one of the major Jewish holidays. The week-long holiday, which begins at sundown on the first day, follows the lunar calendar and thus takes place on different dates each year, often falling in March or April. It celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Ancient Egypt, under the guidance of Old Testament prophet Moses.
Image: Jaafar Ashtiyeh/Getty Images/AFP
The story of Passover
According to the Old Testament, God told Moses to command the Pharoah to free the Israelites. When the Egyptian ruler refused, God sent 10 destructive plagues to the Egyptians, including the death of every first-born child. God told Moses the Israelites would be spared if they slaughtered a lamb and smeared its blood on their doors — in this way, they were "passed over."
Image: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Escape through water
After the death plague, the pharoah initially let the Israelites go but changed his mind and sent the army after them. When the Israelites arrived at the Red Sea, Moses held out his staff and God parted the waters so that they could cross. The Egyptian army was engulfed by the sea. The scene has inspired many works of art, such as this illustration from the Byzantine era.
Image: Maurice Babey/akg-images/picture alliance
A symbolic dinner
Many of the events from the biblical story are symbolized in the Passover meal, or seder. The most important seders take place on the first and second nights of the holiday. The meal is framed by the Haggadah (seen above), a text that recounts the Passover story and sets out the order of the proceedings. A seder's length can vary greatly depending on which Haggadah is used. Sometimes people sing.
At the center of the table is the seder plate with specific and symbolic foods upon it: a shankbone (for the sacrificed lamb); a hard-boiled egg (life and birth); bitter herbs like horseradish (the bitterness of slavery); a sweet paste called charoset (the mortar in the pyramids); and a leafy green like parsley (hope). A bowl of salt water on the table represents the slaves' tears.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Unleavened bread
Matzo, matza or matzoh: No matter how you spell it, one thing remains constant — there's no leavening agent in the thin cracker that is a key part of the seder. It's said that when the Israelites left Egypt, they left in such haste that there was no time to let the dough rise. Many Jews avoid leavened foods during all of Passover.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
A welcoming meal
Ten drops of wine representing the 10 plagues are placed on each person's plate. Participants are supposed to drink four cups of wine, which represent the four terms of redemption made by God to the Israelites. A fith cup is set aside for the prophet Elijah; many open their doors to let him in. This is also a symbol of openness — strangers and the needy are meant to feel welcome at a seder.
Image: Elaine Thompson/AP Photo/picture alliance
Diversity of food
The food served at a seder can vary greatly, depending on culinary traditions. Jews originally from Eastern Europe might eat a veal roast, those from North Africa might eat a tagine. There are many variations on how the sweet charoset is prepared.
(This is an updated version of a gallery that was published on April 14, 2022)
Image: epd/imago images
8 images1 | 8
A clever workaround
But the coronavirus opened the door to an exception in that regard when Orthodox rabbis in Israel recently determined that the use of video conferencing equipment will be allowed due to the exceptional circumstances brought on by the current fight against the infectious pandemic. The rabbis declared that the technology was important in helping the faithful fulfill their religious obligations. They also said it was vital for strengthening generational ties between children and their grandparents, as well as staving off depression and sadness among older Jews.
Here, too, a caveat: The rabbis made clear that people planning to use computers or smartphones over the holiday should turn them on and switch to the right program before Passover begins, for it is still strictly forbidden for Jews to actually operate such tools on religious holidays.