The congratulatory message reads, in part:
”I congratulate most sincerely Orthodox Christians and all Russian citizens celebrating Easter.
The Easter celebrations hold a special place in Russian society’s spiritual life. Easter is a time of moral regeneration, a time that fills people’s hearts with warmth and light and consolidates faith in goodness and justice.
Uniting millions of faithful, the Russian Orthodox Church helps in every way to strengthen our people’s spiritual and historic traditions, and does much to preserve civic peace and concord in our country.
It is symbolic that this year Easter is celebrated on the same day by adepts of all Christian churches. I am sure that their fruitful cooperation in the name of peace and understanding among people will help to bring greater harmony to relations between different ethnic groups and faiths, and preserve Russia’s cultural diversity.
On this joyful day I wish you good health, prosperity and all the very best.“
The President, his spouse Svetlana Medvedeva, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attended the Easter service at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, led by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.