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Some pilgrims gathered in the Old City of Jerusalem to take the Sacred Flame when leaving the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate the most important festival on their calendar this weekend amid a series of restrictions and prohibitions on traditional observance.
Eastern European and Middle Eastern authorities have said congregations should not attend services.
However, in Georgia, the faithful will still be able to attend churches.
The traditional Holy Fire ceremony was held in a nearly deserted Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
The church was closed last month and only a handful of Orthodox clerics, some of them wearing black masks, were able to enter the ceremony.
Traditionally, the Greek Orthodox patriarch Theophilos III lights a candle with the Sacred Fire in the crypt of the Holy Sepulcher, to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus.
Instead of passing the flame on to thousands of pilgrims, this time the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch, four assistants and Coptic and Syrian archbishops attended the ceremony, Israeli media reported.
Church bells rang and Theophilos III and others drew the flame from the church to take it to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and fly to 10 countries.
How is Orthodox Easter marked throughout the world?
From Russia The Orthodox Church has agreed to break with its annual traditions and is urging millions of believers not to attend church. The faithful usually attend night processions to receive blessings. This year the mass will only be held in the presence of priests and other clergy.
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On Saturday, Orthodox volunteers in Moscow attended the blessing of traditional cakes and eggs for people in need.
In Ukraine, officials have said riot police will be deployed if believers begin to gather in churches in large numbers.
In Greece Until now, movement restrictions have been widely praised for slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
Easter authorities have banned attendance at religious services, which would normally attract hundreds of thousands of worshipers.
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Greek police have been deployed by the thousands to maintain strict movement restrictions.
When the Sacred Fire arrives in Athens on Saturday night, it will be brought to the Jerusalem Patriarchate in Athens and, unusually, will not be distributed to churches elsewhere.
The Church has backed the ban, and thousands of police have been deployed to prevent Greeks from using the holiday to visit relatives or second homes.
The Sacred Flame was brought on Saturday to the Church of the Holy Nativity in the Palestinian City of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.
Of Egipt Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II held a Good Friday service without a congregation in a monastery northeast of Cairo. The service was televised live on Coptic Orthodox television channels and featured deacons and priests gathered with gaps between them to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
In RomaniaPeople have been told that they will not be allowed to leave their homes to receive the Sacred Fire on Easter night or to have bread sprinkled with holy water and wine, as is traditional. However, it will be distributed to the homes of believers upon request. President Klaus Iohannis called on Romanians to give up on the idea of having loved ones close to them to prevent the spread of the virus.
Bulgaria It has imposed a curfew in the capital, Sofia, to stop traffic in and out of the city to prevent people from going on vacation. Churches in Serbia and Montenegro I told the faithful to celebrate Easter at home. But North Macedonia The Orthodox Church says it will not use force to prevent people from going to church.
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Why is Georgia different?
By Rayhan Demytrie, BBC News Tbilisi
He has never been so calm in Tbilisi.
The government has banned the movement of all private cars before Easter Sunday. Cemeteries, which Georgians traditionally visit on Easter Monday, are also closed.
Those who violate the state of emergency law, which among other restrictions prohibits meetings of more than three people, face heavy fines of almost £ 800 ($ 1,000; € 900).
And yet, many Georgians wonder why the government made an exception for the Orthodox Church. Thousands have continued to worship freely in churches across the country since the crisis began.
Earlier this month, Bishop Shio Mujiri, the successor chosen by the Patriarch, gave Holy Communion with a shared spoon.
The Church has refused to adapt its customs. Priests continue to give Holy Communion with a shared spoon.
At least two priests have already tested positive for Covid-19. But the midnight mass for Easter will continue.
The parishioners will be received at the Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi despite the curfew. The country’s health authorities have pleaded with people to listen to science for the good of their country.
