For many, Easter isn't just about bunnies and colored eggs. It's also a major religious holiday.

To celebrate, churches across the Capital Region opened their doors Sunday to hold their own large Easter gatherings.

Churches like the Cathedral of All Saints held a number of services for attendees, offering both in-person and virtual options, as they have done throughout the pandemic.

The cathedral's dean, Leander Harding, says seeing the seats full for one of the church's largest holidays warmed his heart.

“Well, when the priest comes out and sees the chairs full on one of the great feasts, it really is, it’s a thrill,” Harding said. “What a privilege to serve God's people in that way and to give the masses a kind of dialogue and to say 'hallelujah, Christ has risen' and hear the people roar back 'he's risen indeed, hallelujah! What could be better?”

For many churches across the region, holding full Easter services has been difficult over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But this Sunday, many residents say it was important for them not just to attend a service, but more importantly attend an in-person service.

“Two years ago on Easter in 2020, I was sitting at home in my sweats watching the service on a virtual broadcast,” church attendee Roger Murman said. “It made me really happy but really sad to not be here. And today is the first time we're back in full force for Easter.”

Along with the Cathedral of All Saints, the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception held full services with hundreds attending services.

Church officials say they hope this a sign of attendance numbers rising in the near future, even as they continue to offer virtual services.