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Easter arrives in Russia, 89% of Russians to celebrate Easter in 2013

The bright Easter holiday, the most important in the Christian calendar, has arrived in Russia

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, May 5 (Itar-Tass) - The bright Easter holiday, the most important in the Christian calendar, has arrived in Russia. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill led a night Easter service at the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior late on Saturday. By tradition a Russian delegation had delivered the Holy Flame from Jerusalem to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Lampions lit from the Holy Flame will be delivered to churches across Russia.

This year, Orthodox believers in Russia are marking the latest Easter in this century. Easter will fall on May 5 in 2024. In 2040, the Easter will be marked a day later on May 6. The earliest Easter in this century was three years ago - on April 4.

According to the latest poll carried out by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTSIOM), 89% of Russians will celebrate Easter in 2013.

In his Easter address to the parishioners Patriarch Kirill called for sharing the joy and festive mood of Christ’s resurrection with the needy and poor and show care and attention to them. The patriarch will visit a children’s orphanage in Moscow’s Kosino district on the first day of Easter.

Paschal charitable actions are taking place in the Kuban region, the Primorye territory, the Sakhalin Island, in the Urals and in the town of Pskov. A charitable action called ‘The White Flower’ will be held in Moscow on May 12 to raise money for sick children.

Concerts will be held at 15 Moscow churches. Festivals of choral singing will take place at museum reserves. A number of cinema houses will have a free run of over 40 Christian films, including Andrei Rublyov by Andrei Tarkovsky, The Island by Pavel Lungin, The Priest by Vladimir Khotinenko, etc. Easter symbols will decorate the city’s pedestrian zones. Maestro Valery Gergiyev and pianist Denis Matsuyev will open the 12th Easter Music Festival at the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire on Sunday night.

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