Did You Know...

The Resurrection, El Greco

Happy Easter to all of my readers of the Christian faith — and Happy Passover to all of my readers of the Jewish faith.

“Jesus Christ is Risen Today” performed by the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir:

And “Rejoice,” from Le choeur gospel de Paris:

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In Nigeria, an Easter car bombing killed at least 5.

Keep our troops in your prayers as always. U.S. soldiers celebrated Easter in Afghanistan, via Stars and Stripes:

At a forward operating base in Afghanistan, a small congregation comprised of roughly two dozen U.S. troops and civilian contractors attended an Easter vigil held Saturday night.

Led by an Army chaplain at FOB Salerno in Khost province, Afghanistan, the small gathering commemorated the life, death, passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is still alive — he has spent more than 900 days in the custody of the Iranian government, which is seeking to execute him for refusing to renounce his Christian faith and convert to Islam.

As Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Easter, Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani remains in jail — alive, yes — but having already passed his 900th day behind bars for being a Christian and still facing a possible execution.

Nadarkhani, whose first name also can be spelled “Youcef,” was able to visit with a son on on the son’s birthday Monday (April 2), according to the American Center for Law and Justice, which is closely monitoring the case. His 900th day in jail occurred in late March.