Orthodox world celebrates Easter

Today Orthodox believers around the world are celebrating the main Christian holiday - Easter, or the Resurrection of Christ. 

On Saturday night, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill led a solemn service in the main cathedral of Russia - the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. 

In his traditional Easter message to clergy and believers, Patriarch Kirill said that the Lord has called people "to exploit active love, embodied in selfless service to others." "If this law of life, which was so clearly presented and expressed in the earthly life of the Savior, will become the property of the majority, people will be really happy. After serving others, one gets incomparably more than one pays: the Lord himself then enters into one's heart and through the communion of divine grace is changing all human life," the message reads. 

The representative of the Russian Church congratulated all Orthodox Christians on the occasion of the Resurrection of Christ, wishing believers "fortitude and firmness in faith, peace." 

President Vladimir Putin also expressed his congratulations to all Orthodox Christians and all Russian citizens celebrating the resurrection of Christ. He stressed that "the great feast of Easter gives millions of believers joy, hope, attaches them to their spiritual origins and paternal traditions." 

"Russian Orthodox Church plays a huge creative role in the preservation of our rich historical and cultural heritage, revival of enduring ethical, moral values. It constantly concerns social cohesion, strengthening the institution of the family, the education of the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism and citizenship. It does a lot to solve pressing social problems, strengthen inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony in the country. Such a large, multi-faceted work is very important today and deserves the deepest recognition"- RIA Novosti reported with reference to the press service of the Kremlin.