Father Giovanni Scalese, chaplain at the Italian Embassy in Kabul, distributes communion at a Catholic Easter mass at NATO's Resolute Support headquarters in the Afghan capital on April 21, 2019. ( Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Father Giovanni Scalese, chaplain at the Italian Embassy in Kabul, distributes communion at a Catholic Easter mass at NATO's Resolute Support headquarters in the Afghan capital on April 21, 2019. ( Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
A nun doing charity work in Afghanistan attends a Catholic Easter service with coalition troops at NATO's Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul on Sunday, April 21, 2019. ( Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
An American servicemember sings from a hymn book during an Easter service at NATO's Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, April 21, 2019. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Servicemembers and contractors from the U.S. and other NATO coalition countries sing hymns at a Protestant Easter service at NATO's Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, April 21, 2019. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
The Bible and cross are displayed at an Easter service at NATO's Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, April 21, 2019. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Forward Support Base Chaplain Maj. Kathy Scott leads a traditional Protestant Easter service at NATO's Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, April 21, 2019, one of several Christian services available to troops and contractors living on the base throughout the day. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Forward Support Base Chaplain Maj. Kathy Scott delivers an Easter sermon at NATO's Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, April 21, 2019. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Servicemembers and contractors from the United States and other coalition countries celebrated Easter at NATO’s Resolute Support headquarters in the Afghan capital on Sunday.
Several church services were held to mark the day Christians believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
Two Protestant services were held in the morning - including one at sunrise, during which a fire was lit to symbolize renewal.
“For Christians, Easter is important because it celebrates new life," said Forward Support Base Chaplain Maj. Kathy Scott, who led the later service. “We celebrate the resurrected Lord Jesus, but we also celebrate the new life in us that can take place, new attitudes, new behaviors, new ways of thinking.
“To me that’s what’s important, to give people hope as they work here, which can seem very, very dark.”
Father Giovanni Scaleses, chaplain at the Italian Embassy in Kabul, visited the base to lead a Catholic mass. He distributed communion to those in attendance, which included several nuns doing charity work in the country.
NATO’s Kabul headquarters houses servicemembers from most of the roughly 40 countries that make up the coalition, which is tasked with training and advising Afghan security forces.
