Orthodox Christians observe Easter with candles, prayers

Russia’s Putin and Medvedev attend services at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow

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By AP 8 April 2018, 9:39 pm Edit

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko attends an Orthodox Easter celebrating in the Volodymyrskiy Monastery in Kiev, Ukraine, April 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Ukrainian Orthodox believers light candles from the Holy Fire during Orthodox Easter celebrations in the Volodymyrskiy Monastery in Kiev, Ukraine, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/ Evgeniy Maloletka)
Russian Orthodox priests attend the Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, April 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)
Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, left, greets Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, during the Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, April 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)
Kosovo Serb Orthodox pilgrims hold candles during an Easter vigil mass in the monastery of Gracanica during an Easter service, Kosovo, April 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Lithuanian Orthodox believers light candles during an Easter vigil mass in the Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius, Lithuania, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
A Greek Orthodox priest lights candles of the faithful with Holy Fire brought from Jerusalem inside a church in Athens, Greece, on April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
Kosovo Serb Orthodox pilgrims hold candles during an Easter vigil mass in the monastery of Gracanica during an Easter service, Kosovo, April 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

MOSCOW — Orthodox Christian believers are observing Easter, a week later than the religious holiday was celebrated this year by Western churches.

In Russia, about 4.3 million people took part in an Orthodox Easter event, the Interior Ministry said Sunday. President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attended Easter services at Christ the Savior Cathedral, Moscow’s largest church.

Serbia celebrated the day in a highly charged atmosphere over Kosovo, the former Serbian province whose predominantly ethnic Albanian people declared independence from Serbia a decade ago.

Kosovo is considered by Serbia’s nationalists as the cradle of the Balkan state’s statehood and religion. Messages from priests during liturgies included political messages.

In Kiev, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko attended Orthodox Easter services at the Volodymyrskiy Monastery.

In Jerusalem, tens of thousands of Christian pilgrims gathered at Christianity’s holiest site, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, for the “Holy Fire” ceremony.

With candles in hand, at least 7,000 pilgrims filled the church, according to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.