In Photos: Orthodox Easter Celebrations Across Russia
Russians across the country on Sunday celebrated the most important and sacred holiday in the Russian Orthodox Church's calendar: Easter.
At home, most Russians took part in beloved traditions like dyeing and decorating eggs, as well as eating Easter delicacies like kulich bread and paskha cake.
Worshippers also flocked to church to attend Easter services, albeit with sanitary restrictions in place due to the still-raging coronavirus pandemic.
Here's a closer look at how the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its biggest holiday:
At home, most Russians took part in beloved traditions like dyeing and decorating eggs, as well as eating Easter delicacies like kulich bread and paskha cake.
Worshippers also flocked to church to attend Easter services, albeit with sanitary restrictions in place due to the still-raging coronavirus pandemic.
Here's a closer look at how the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its biggest holiday:
A Russian Orthodox priest blesses believers with holy water.
During Easter celebrations, it's a common tradition for worshippers to greet each other by saying “Christ is risen!” followed by “He is truly risen!” in response. It's also common for people to greet each other with three kisses on the cheek.
During Easter celebrations, it's a common tradition for worshippers to greet each other by saying “Christ is risen!” followed by “He is truly risen!” in response. It's also common for people to greet each other with three kisses on the cheek.
Denis Voronin / Moskva News Agency
A beloved Russian Easter pastime is dyeing eggs red by boiling them with onion skins. The color red symbolizes the blood and passion of Jesus Christ.
Denis Voronin / Moskva News Agency
In a statement to mark Easter, President Vladimir Putin thanked the church for its contribution to "pressing social problems" and for promoting family traditions.
Kremlin.ru
Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, led the Easter mass at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral.
Kremlin.ru
"This Easter is special and its special nature lies in the hope that the bane of the pandemic will pass and, leaving us with a number of important lessons, will after all abandon us forever," Patriarch Kirill told the state-run Rossia 24 broadcaster.
Patriarchia.ru
Easter mass begins at midnight Saturday with the ringing of church bells to announce that Jesus has risen. Orthodox priests perform liturgical chants and walk through and around the church with candles and crucifixes in a solemn procession.
Patriarchia.ru
While many worshippers at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral wore face masks, members of the clergy as well as Putin himself went mask-less.
Patriarchia.ru
As priests walk through the church, worshippers hold candles to the flame of the priest's candle to light their own flame.
Kremlin.ru
