Putin Sends Easter Greetings to Russians

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On Sunday, the Kremlin press office said that President Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to all Orthodox Christians and to all Russians celebrating Easter, Christianity‘s most important and joyful feast, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Putin wrote, “Easter gives joy and hope to millions of people, it inspires us to good deeds and noble aspirations. It turns us to fundamental spiritual values that played a special role in Russia’s history and which feed the national culture”. Putin also praised the role of the Orthodox Church in maintaining civil peace and accord in Russia and developing inter-confessional and inter-ethnic dialogue, saying, “The Church continually takes a care to strengthen high moral and ethical ideals and family traditions in society, and in raising the younger generation. The Church does a lot to solve pressing social problems”.

The influence of the Orthodox Church in Russia has risen since the collapse of the USSR, despite the fact that the Russian Constitution mandates separation of church and state. A public opinion survey conducted by the Kremlin-backed pollster Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) last year showed that 65 percent of Russians have confidence in the Church.

Early on Sunday, Putin and Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev attended Easter services in downtown Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour as Russia celebrated Christianity’s most important and joyful holiday. Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias, the First Hierarch of the Local Church of Moscow, led the service. In his sermon at the Divine Liturgy, the patriarch cautioned against interpreting freedom as permissiveness, and he called believers to follow spiritual rather than material values in their lives.

The Resurrection of the Saviour symbolises his victory over sin and death and the birth of a new world redeemed by his Passion. After midnight and for the next 40 days after Easter Sunday, Orthodox Christians greet each other with “Christ is risen!” and the reply is “He is risen, indeed!” followed by three kisses. They also exchange Easter eggs. Preparation for Easter celebrations begins in Russia on Holy Saturday… the last day of Holy Week, also known in Russia as Passion Week. On that day, people come to churches in great numbers to have paschal cakes and eggs blessed by priests. The Easter Divine Liturgy starts shortly before midnight. At midnight, a solemn festive procession with crosses and icons starts, with priests and believers going around the church glorifying the Resurrection. Nonbelievers attracted by its splendour often attend the procession. The service lasts into the early hours of Sunday.

5 May 2013

RIA-Novosti

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130505/180981029/Putin-Congratulates-Russians-on-Easter.html

Greetings from President Lukashenko to the Orthodox Christians of Belarus

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Dear compatriots,

I wish you Happy Easter. For the entire Christian world, the Resurrection of Christ is the main symbol of self-sacrifice and unconditional love. Easter encourages believers to think about the purpose of human life, and to embrace eternal values based on kindness, mercy, and compassion. On this bright spring day, everyone does their best to take good care of their families and friends, share the joy of the holiday, and give the warmth of sincere relations. Easter unites people; it inspires them to creative labour and new achievements for the benefit of the Fatherland. Let the Resurrection of Christ fill your hearts with faith and hope, and let it bring peace and understanding to your homes. I cordially wish you good health, success, fulfilment of your most cherished dreams, happiness, and wellbeing.

4 May 2013

Aleksandr Lukashenko

President of Belarus

Patriarchia.ru

Official MP Website

http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/2951248.html

Statement by President Obama on the Occasion of Orthodox Easter

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This weekend, Michelle and I extend our best wishes to members of the Orthodox Christian community here in America and around the world as they observe Holy Friday and the Feast of the Resurrection. For millions of Orthodox Christians, this is a joyful time, but it’s also a reminder of the sacrifice Christ made so that we might have eternal life. His decision to choose love in the face of hate, to hope in the face of despair, is an example we should always strive to follow. However, it’s especially important to remember this year, as members of the Orthodox community have been confronted with persecution and violence, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. For centuries, the region and the world has been enriched by the contributions of Orthodox communities in countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. As a nation, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting universal human rights including the freedom of religion. Moreover, in this season of hope and restoration, we celebrate the transformational power of sacrificial love.

4 May 2013

Barack Obama

President of the USA

http://www.Whitehouse.gov

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/04/statement-president-occasion-orthodox-easter

5 May 2013. Christ Rose in Minneapolis!

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He is Risen, indeed!

Воистинну восресе!

My good friend Denise lived in Minneapolis MN for a while, and this image of last night’s Easter service there came my way, which brought her to mind again. I visited her grave at Jordanville last night and laid a red Easter egg on it. Yes… we Russians do that… we visit the graves of our loved ones at the Easter time. I wept…

Вечная память!

Eternal Memory!

BMD