Patriarch Kirill congratulates Orthodox Christians on Easter

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated all believers on the great feast of Holy Easter. The video message is published by Izvestia on April 12.

"Dear brothers and sisters, I cordially congratulate all of you on the great feast of Holy Easter. "Christ has risen from the dead, death has been corrected by death" — these are the words in which the Church has been testifying to the world for two millennia about the all-conquering power of divine love," he said.

The Patriarch noted that these words fill the hearts of believers with the joy of being and the light of hope.

"Christ is risen, so there is something to live for. Christ has risen, and we will never be alone again," the patriarch continued.

He added that the resurrection of Christ symbolizes the victory over death and the opening of the gates of the Kingdom of heaven, and also stressed the importance of referring to the encouraging words of the prophet Isaiah.: "Do not be afraid, for I am with you."

Patriarch Kirill wished these words to comfort in the most difficult circumstances of life, and faith in the risen Lord to help overcome all doubts, worries and fears.

"Easter in translation means nothing more than a passage, passage, deliverance. Together with the Lord, we are making this transition and striving for spiritual renewal," the Patriarch emphasized.

He called on believers to follow the commandments of Christ, support those in need, comfort the grieving, and thanked those who live and work nearby. In conclusion, he wished that the Easter Message would become the foundation of a life filled with joy, love, faith and hope, which means true happiness and well-being.

Holy Fire is the main miracle of Easter: how does it light up and why doesn't it burn

In 2026, the ceremony will take place on April 11 in Jerusalem.

On April 11, the Holy Fire descended in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The ceremony took place on Holy Saturday. Before that, prayer processions took place in the temple, and the Kuvuklia, the chapel above the Lord's bed, was searched for fire sources and sealed.

Easter cakes were consecrated in the Sretensky and Donskoy monasteries of Moscow on April 11. Parishioners gathered at the temples with cakes and colored eggs.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.