Millions of people worldwide are celebrating the main Christian holiday, Easter Sunday. This year the Orthodox Christian Church and the Catholic Church are celebrating Easter on the same day. The next time when the two Churches share Easter celebrations will not occur until 2025.
In Russia, the Easter celebration centered around Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral, where Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill conducted the Easter service. The tradition of holding Patriarchal Easter services in Moscow’s main cathedral originates in 2001, when Patriarch Alexy II conducted the service in the cathedral, rebuilt in late 1990s after being demolished by the Bolsheviks in 1931.
The Patriarchal service, attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev with his wife Svetlana, was broadcast live by Russia’s main state TV channels and viewed by millions of Russians. The service was also attended by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and other prominent Russian political and public figures, TASS reports.
"I wish to all of you to experience this special kind of joy," the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said prior to the service. "We know that even in smallest churches, where the service is a lot more modest than in cathedrals, people feel this special joy in their hearts."
"May the blessing and power of Christ, who defeated death, strengthen us in our faith and help us to wend our way through life," Patriarch Kirill added.
He also congratulated Orthodox believers living in other countries.
