Orthodox Christians mark Easter Day at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Russian Orthodox Christians filled the Church of Christ the Savior in Moscow, where Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia led the candle-lit Easter vigil.

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© RIA Novosti . Ilya Pitalev

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Russian Orthodox Christians filled the Church of Christ the Savior in Moscow, where Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia led the candle-lit Easter vigil.

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© RIA Novosti . Sergei Pyatakov

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Patriarch Kirill lights the candles with the Holy Fire delivered Saturday from Jerusalem.

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© RIA Novosti . Sergei Pyatakov

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Parishioners during Easter service at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

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© RIA Novosti . Sergei Pyatakov

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A sacristan handing out candles ahead of the service.

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© RIA Novosti . Sergei Pyatakov

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Priests lead a midnight procession which is followed by the Easter Liturgy continuing into the wee hours of the morning.

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© RIA Novosti . Ilya Pitalev

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The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was blown up in 1931 but rebuilt in 1999.

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Matins was followed by the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Patriarch Kirill and several bishops.

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© RIA Novosti . Sergei Pyatakov

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Believers exchanged traditional Easter greetings “Christ is risen!” – “He is risen indeed!”

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The first week after Easter is Eastertide.

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© RIA Novosti . Evgeniy Samarin

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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin joined the service at the cathedral. The influence of Russia’s Orthodox Church has grown since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.