Easter Celebrations: Orthodox Christians Mark Christ's Resurrection

Thousands of Christians have celebrated the great holiday of Easter, lighting candles the flame from the 'miracle light' that represents the resurrection of Christ and is passed to every Orthodox church around the world.

This year, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christians, who use different liturgical calendars, celebrated Easter one week apart, with Catholics and Protestants marking Easter on April 1 and Orthodoxs celebrating Paskha on April 8. In 2017 the celebration occurred on the same dates. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended Easter services at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral where several thousand people gathered, including members of parliament to mark the occasion.

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April 7, 2017. Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Easter service at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.

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Holy Saturday service at the Resurrection Cathedral of the Diocese of Berlin and Germany (Russian Orthodox Church) in Berlin.

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Worshippers hold candles as they take part in the Christian Orthodox Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City April 7, 2018.

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Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sets the doves free after a service on the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary holiday at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

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Blessing Easter cakes and eggs on Holy Saturday at the Assumption Cathedral in Kazan.

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Believers on Holy Saturday at the St. Trinity Cathedral in Simferopol.

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Believers celebrate the Descent of the Holy Fire at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

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Worshippers hold candles as they take part in the Christian Orthodox Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City April 7, 2018.

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Ethiopian Orthodox worshippers play music as they take part in the Holy Fire ceremony at the Ethiopian section of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City April 7, 2018.

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People prepare to throw clay pots filled with water from their window during the Greek Orthodox Easter tradition of "Botides" on Holy Saturday marking the so-called "First Resurrection", on the island of Corfu, Greece, April 7, 2018.

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Worshippers walk around Sioni Cathedral with lit candles during a midnight Easter service in Tbilisi, Georgia, April 8, 2018.

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Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter at St. John the Baptist monastery near Mavrovo, Macedonia April 8, 2018.

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A girl reacts during the Easter service at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, Russia April 7, 2018.

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Worshippers light candles during the Orthodox Easter service at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey April 7, 2018.

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Priests lead the Christian Orthodox Easter service at St. John the Baptist Monastery near Mavrovo, Macedonia April 8 2018.

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Ethiopian Orthodox faithful hold candles as they attend the easter eve prayers at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Orthodox church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 7, 2018.