Catholics, protestants and other Christians who follow the Gregorian calendar were celebrating Easter on Sunday, the biggest and oldest Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his victory over death.

In Zagreb, the Easter Day Mass in St Stephen's Cathedral was led by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanic. In his sermon, among other things, he condemned growing unemployment, consumerism, media sensationalism and disintegration of the family, saying that they were leading modern man to "a spiritual death".

"Today man is condemned to death when he cannot work. Unemployment and layoffs are the sin of our time that brings suffering and anxiety to the family," the archbishop said.

Criticising avoidance of responsibility, he condemned abortion, saying that "under the guise of human rights advocacy the destruction of human life at its very beginning is legalised, justified and promoted."

Speaking of media sensationalism, Bozanic said that it "feeds us with negative news and prevents us from looking at the good sides of life." He blamed "various opiates, drugs, consumerism, dependence on pills, erotism and intoxication with fashion" for modern man's escape from "true and full life."

Bozanic called for "a new upbringing that will help man to rejoice and hope and to see good in his fellow men." He also warned of the importance of the role of the family, condemning divorce, and called on the faithful "to readily accept sacrifice, help their brethren and celebrate life."

Easter services were held throughout Croatia and among Croat communities in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the eastern city of Osijek, Mass was led by the Archbishop of Djakovo and Osijek and Chairman of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, Marin Srakic, and in Sarajevo it was led by the Archbishop, Cardinal Vinko Puljic.