Thousands of Iraqi Christians flocked to churches for their first Easter mass since the fall of Saddam Hussein, and heard the US occupation compared to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
A month to the day since US and British troops invaded Iraq, the country's Christian clergymen took to the pulpit to express their resentment and steel their faithful for the tough times ahead.
Muslims have already protested the US presence in recent days. Leaders of the majority Shiites expect millions of people this week at a long-supressed pilgrimage to their holy city of Karbala which could turn anti-American.
Iraq's 500,000 Christians suffered little for their religion under Saddam, and their leaders drew sharp Biblical parallels in stressing their opposition to the military campaign that ended his 24-year rule.
"I told the faithful that Iraq lived through its passion in recent weeks with the American invasion," said Father Butros Haddad, priest at the Church of the Virgin Mary in central Baghdad.
"But it will be reborn like Christ was resurrected," the cleric told hundreds of Chaldean Catholic faithful. "The resurrection comes always after the passion, joy comes back always after the pain."
The normally joyous Easter celebrations took place this year with Iraq struggling to get back on its feet after the war. Most shops are still closed, electricity is out and security dicey after a wave of looting and vandalism.
Christians have been leaving Iraq in recent years because of political and economic hardships. Haddad sought to comfort his congregation, which once included top Saddam aide Tareq Aziz, in their latest trial.
"Despite the celebration, I know that in their hearts, in their souls, there is fear and anguish," the priest said.
Iraqi frustration has been building over the failure of US troops to follow up their quick military victory here by re-establishing a civilian authority to start on the country's massive reconstruction needs.
More than 10,000 Muslims, fired by vehement anti-American sermons at their weekly prayers Friday, took to the streets to rail against the US occupation and pledge never to sell out their country.
Mohammed Mohsen Zubeidi, a long-time Sadam opponent, said last week he had been named de facto governor of Baghdad and on Sunday announced the creation of 22 committees to kickstart the process of rebuilding the capital.
But despite Zubeidi's assertion that he has US backing, American military officials deny conferring any leadership role on him, and have left a vaccuum in the post-war administrative hierarchy.
Muslim anger could come to a head this week in Karbala, 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad, where a massive Shiite rally was expected Tuesday and Wednesday.
Shiite worshippers from all over the country were on the march Sunday towards Karbala to mark the death in battle of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in the year 680.
Some Shiite officials said millions of people were expected at the commemoration which was also likely to provide an opportunity for the Shiites to flex their newfound political muscle in the post-Saddam era.