Russians and other Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter, Christianity's most important and joyful feast when the Church commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, RIA Novosti reports.
Tens of thousands of people flocked to the country's churches to attend solemn midnight processions with crosses and icons, as well as evening and night divine services throughout the country.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who heads the Russian Orthodox Church, led the Easter service in downtown Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. It was attended by some 5,000 people, including President Dmitry Medvedev and his spouse Svetlana, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky and other officials.
Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana presented Kirill with a decorative Easter egg and the Patriarch also gave both of them Easter eggs.
The Resurrection of the Savior symbolizes his victory over sin and death and the birth of a new world redeemed by his Passion.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter
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