According to officials from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Russia (CCBR), the evening Easter mass started at 19:30 on Saturday at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
"Traditionally, Catholics bring Ester food (Easter cakes, Easter eggs, meats and sausages, salt) for blessing at the cathedrals before the evening mass on Holy Saturday. Many Easter customs of the local Catholic community due to Russian cultural traditions resemble those of the Orthodox Church," noted CCBR Secretary General Father Igor Kovalevsky.
The Easter Mass in the Roman Catholic Church starts with a special Light Liturgy.
"During the liturgy, a bonfire is lit in the yard of a church. A priest then lights a big Easter candle from the bonfire. It symbolizes resurrected Christ. The priest enters the church in complete darkness holding the Easter candle, and the believers light their candles from the holy candle," the priest told RIA Novosti corespondent.
He said that a tradition to baptize adults on Easter night had existed from the first centuries of Christianity. Baptism on the Easter night is considered especially honorable.
State Duma deputies, Russian president's administration officials, government and Moscow Mayor's office officials were invited to celebrate Easter at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
In Russia, there is a tradition to exchange Easter eggs and presents among Russian Catholics, as well as among Russian Orthodox believers.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which lives by Julian Calendar, contrary to Roman Catholic Church, will celebrate Easter on May 1 this year. "Sometimes the dates according to Gregorian and Julian Calendars coincide; sometimes the difference is only several days. However, this year, it is the biggest - five weeks," Father Kovalevsky stated (it is Lent period for Russian Orthodox believers, which ends on April 30).
According to CCBR, 600,000 Catholics reside in Russia. 60,000 Catholics live in Moscow.
