Russian Women and Men Celebrate Easter Sunday
In Moscow on Sunday the Orthodox Church began its Easter celebration with a divine service held at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Aleksi II, led the service. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is the primary cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Many of the top politicians in Moscow, including President Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov attended the service. President Putin was seen crossing himself as the priest addressed the congregation with the words” Jesus Christ has risen today.” There were also many other officials, foreign guests and cultural activists present at the service, which was highlighted by a processional and hundreds of candles which were lit from “Holy Fire” from Jerusalem.
Putin was presented with a jeweled Easter egg from the church patriarch, which Putin kissed. He also returned a long lost icon of Our Lady of Vladimir and made a pledge to return other lost religious relics from the Soviet era to the church.
In the Vatican, a holy work of art that had been venerated by Orthodox Christians was near the alter while Benedict XVI presided over the Easter Mass. Aleksi II put aside his long standing differences with the Roman Catholic Church to send Easter greetings to the Pope this year.
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