On the day of Orthodox Easter, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia led the traditional Easter Great Vespers at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. The solemn service was attended by clergy, hierarchs, representatives of Local Orthodox Churches, government officials, youth groups, and thousands of faithful worshippers. Russian President Vladimir Putin was also present at the celebration of the most important holiday in the Orthodox Christian calendar.

Joining Patriarch Kirill in the service were deans of Moscow’s church districts and clergy from the Moscow Diocese. Among the international representatives were delegations from the Antiochian, Serbian, Jerusalem, Bulgarian, American, and Czech Orthodox Churches, all serving under the Moscow Patriarchate.

As part of the longstanding tradition, a rare 18th-century Gospel, once belonging to Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) and gifted to the Cathedral, was brought out for the service. This sacred relic is used only twice a year — during Christmas and Easter.

At the end of the service, Patriarch Kirill and President Putin exchanged Easter greetings and gifts. The President presented the Patriarch with a handcrafted porcelain Easter egg featuring the image of the revered Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

Metropolitan Juvenaly (Poyarkov) extended Easter greetings on behalf of the entire Russian Orthodox Church, remarking: "Today is perhaps the one day in the year when no lengthy words are needed. The essence of the celebration is captured in just two: Christ is Risen!" He also offered a traditional Easter egg and a bouquet of white roses to the Patriarch.

Representatives of Orthodox youth, including Alexey Vybornov, a participant in the special military operation and recipient of the Order of Courage, and church singer Yulia Zherdeva, also greeted the Patriarch, presenting him with white roses on behalf of the youth of Moscow.

In his Easter address, Patriarch Kirill emphasized the importance of preserving faith in everyday life: “Preserving faith is not just a matter of worldview — it is a matter of life and human happiness… Because if our faith were merely philosophical, Christianity would not have lasted two thousand years. This is life — life revealed to us by the Lord.”

The day’s festivities concluded with warm Easter greetings from members of the Patriarchal Volunteers, a youth movement that the Patriarch called an "inseparable part" of his ministry.