Orthodox Easter celebration

An Orthodox priest blesses traditional Easter cakes and painted eggs prepared for Easter celebrations in the Kyiv- Pechersk Lavra church, also known as the Cave Monastery, in Kiev, Ukraine, on Sunday. Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter on Sunday.

ATHENS, Greece — With “holy fire,” fireworks and solemn Masses, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter on Sunday, commemorating the day followers believe that Jesus was resurrected more than 2,000 years ago.

Roman Catholics and Protestants marked Easter in March, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrated Easter this week, using the older Julian calendar.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attended an Easter midnight Mass in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the world’s largest Orthodox Church, officiated at the service, attended by about 5,000 people.

In Greece, the faithful attended Easter Mass holding candles lit with “holy fire” from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The holy fire, coming from the Edicule, the small chamber marking the site of Jesus’ tomb, is believed by the faithful to miraculously light candles as a message to the faithful from heaven.

Fireworks were also used at the festivities, despite official disapproval from the Greek Orthodox Church.

AP/ SERGEI CHUZAVKOV

AP/ ANDREEA ALEXANDRU A woman holds a candle that was part of the Orthodox Easter service at the Pasarea monastery, outside Bucharest, Romania, early Sunday.