On Sunday, April 19, Orthodox Christians celebrate the main church holiday - Easter. During the liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which was held without parishioners due to the threat of the spread of the coronavirus, Patriarch Cyril addressed the faithful.

“I have a special wish, coming from the very heart, that the misfortune that befell us stop as soon as possible, that the disease does not take away more and more human lives, that it does not cause other physical damage to people, that social connections connecting our people and other human ties that form a strong and solidary society, ”said the patriarch.

He also noted that the temples do not feel empty, despite the absence of laity. 

“This emptiness is not there, because I know with what feelings you now expect on the TV screens to begin the Easter service,” the patriarch added.

Earlier, the Russian Orthodox Church reported that in all churches in Moscow and the Moscow region, due to the epidemiological situation, Easter services will be held without parishioners. The Russian Orthodox Church also blessed the faithful to consecrate Easter cakes for Easter at home.

“In the context of the spread of coronavirus infection, given that many parishioners will not have the opportunity to personally visit churches on Easter day, ... believers who remain at home can bless the Easter cakes and Easter at home,” the patriarch’s working group for coordination of activities said church institutions in the context of the spread of COVID-19.

The head of the Synodal department for the relationship of the church with society and the media, a member of the working group under the patriarch to coordinate the activities of church institutions in the context of the spread of coronavirus infection, Vladimir Legoyda, in an interview with RT, urged parishioners not to be upset by the short-term ban on visiting churches and recalled that, if necessary priests will be able to visit believers at home.

“We urge everyone to listen to the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch, who urged everyone to pray at home, and to the order of the sanitary authorities. In addition, at the moment, many temples conduct online broadcasting of services, ”he said.

Legoyda also appealed to law enforcement agencies and called for indulgence to those believers who find themselves on the street on Holy Saturday and Easter.

“I am convinced that Easter night is not the right time to fine people, it’s enough to confine ourselves to an explanation,” he added.

Happy Easter congratulated the Russians and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his address published on the Kremlin’s website, the head of state noted the role of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations in “strengthening the spiritual, moral foundations of society, enhancing the country's historical and cultural heritage”. He also highlighted the activities of Christian religious organizations, their "support of volunteers, volunteers, all caring people who in this difficult time sincerely seek to help others."

Vladimir Putin will stay home for Easter, President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier, adding that the head of state and Patriarch of All Russia Kirill will exchange congratulations.

“As you know, he now lives and works in the state residence of Novo-Ogaryovo. The president will light a candle in the small chapel located on the territory of this state residence in the evening, ”said Peskov.

On the eve of the Holy Fire descended in the temple of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilus III distributed it to the servants of the Greek Church, as well as to representatives of the faiths who own the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The shrine was delivered to the Jaffa gate of the Old City, where it was distributed to representatives of countries in which a significant part of the population professes Orthodoxy.

It is worth noting that because of the coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony was held for the first time in almost a thousand years behind closed doors, without pilgrims and believers.

Speaking about the work on Easter of the foreign parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church, Vladimir Legoyda noted that they would follow the instructions of the local authorities and would not violate quarantine. 

Meanwhile, in Moscow, volunteers from the Orthodox Volunteers movement delivered more than 3,000 blessed Easter cakes to lonely old people, large families, and people with disabilities.

“Easter cakes will be taken to the apartments of single grandparents, large families and people with disabilities by members of the Orthodox Volunteers movement on Holy Saturday. Students who are in quarantine will also receive Easter cakes, ”RIA Novosti quotes a representative of the movement.

He specified that more than 3 thousand Easter cakes were consecrated in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word on Pokrovka Street.