Ukrainian Orthodox priest blesses believers as they collect traditional cakes and painted eggs prepared for an Easter celebration at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra church (Cave Monastery) in Kiev, Ukraine, early Sunday, April 8, 2018. Eastern Orthodox churches, which observe the ancient Julian calendar, usually celebrate Easter later than Western churches. (Evgeniy Maloletka/Associated Press)
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.
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