He held a lit candle and when Patriarch Kirill - head of the Russian Orthodox Church - said 'Christ has risen', Putin joined other worshippers with the reply 'Truly he is risen'. Right: Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a candle during the Orthodox Easter mass in Moscow. AdvertisementWith the Orthodox church split by the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, some worshippers hoped the holy day could inspire gestures of peace-making. In the town's small Orthodox church, around 50 civilians had braved possible mortar fire to gather to pray from dawn. 'Stop the attacks to ease the suffering of exhausted people,' the pope added, with both Russians and Ukrainians celebrating Orthodox Easter this Sunday.

Source: Daily Mail April 24, 2022 22:46 UTC