Police and ROC: Easter service in Moscow broke the record – BBC Russian

• 12 April 2015

Post

According to the Moscow police, this year the capital Orthodox churches visited at Easter 1.15 million people – that is, if figure is correct, more than 10% of the population, including infants and people with disabilities.

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church is called an even greater number: half a million.

However, it is not known whether there is meant only participants night Easter service, or as those who came on Saturday holy Easter cakes and eggs.

“This is a record – last year, came to the temple” only “714,000 people” – wrote on his website, “Komsomolskaya Pravda”. At the same time a year ago, the Interfax news agency referring to the Metropolitan Police reported about 300 thousand participants of worship.

Data for other cities and regions of Russia yet.

In his sermon after the Paschal Great Vespers in the temple Christ the Savior Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill expressed the view that mass visiting temples “people responded to the recent anti-clerical attacks”.

primary duty

March 29 polls were published the results of the survey, according to which Lent this year complied with 3% of the Russian population.

As a result of last year’s survey of the Fund “Public Opinion”, since 1997 the number of Russians consider themselves Orthodox, increased from 52% to 68%. At the same time the proportion of those who have been to church at least once a month, increased slightly from 9 to 11 per cent; 61% identified themselves as Orthodox never partake.

However, attending church on Easter in Russia is traditionally viewed as a fundamental duty of every one who, even provisionally, pleads Orthodox believers.

About eternal and pressing

In a message on the eve of Easter, Patriarch Kirill was apolitical, and talked about eternal values.

“What can be applied to our feat the realities of modern life? Today, when we say the word, in the minds of people is often a image of some of the legendary warrior, historical figure or famous hero from the past. But the meaning of the feat is not in the acquisition of loud glory. [...] The Lord has called us to exploit active love, embodied in the selfless service to others, especially of those who those who especially need our support: the suffering, sick, lonely, Cheer up, “- he wrote.

The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate believes that non-canonical, Patriarch Filaret, turned in his letter to the topic of the day.

“We firmly believe that in a short time, the Lord will give us victory over the aggressor, because with us truth and the truth, there is God and victory” – he said.

In addition, Filaret urged the congregation to deal with sins, including corruption.

Dignitaries

in the service of the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Saviour present Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

At the end of the Easter Matins Patriarch approached the senior parishioners, we exchanged Easter greetings with them and handed brightly colored boxes in which as reported by the press service of the Patriarch, were Easter eggs made by church jewelers.

According to RIA Novosti news agency, later statesmen went to the altar, in turn, congratulated the patriarch and left the church.

Of the three politicians only Dmitry Medvedev was his wife. Vladimir Putin, Sergei Sobyanin, as you know, are divorced.

Routes Fire

According to the tradition, the evening Saturday Charitable Fund of St. Andrew, headed by the President of RAO “Russian Railways” Vladimir Yakunin, brought from Jerusalem to Moscow particle of the Holy Fire of the Holy Sepulchre.

Last year, a special flight landed at the airport “Vnukovo” an hour late, so even it was feared if the fire gets to the desired point in the Christ the Savior Cathedral. At this time there were no discrepancies.

When delivering new lamps were used, made on the model of those used on the eve of the Games in Sochi to transport the Olympic flame.

For the first time this year the Foundation of St. Andrew created a special website to interested persons could online to watch the movement of the Holy Fire from Moscow to other regions and cities, including the Crimea and Donetsk.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Donetsk Diocese Georgy Gulyaev recently told the media that the fire will be delivered directly to Donetsk from Jerusalem and the Passover night did not arrive in time, as the local airport does not work.