With candles, prayers, Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter


              Egyptian Coptic Christian pray during the Easter Eve service at St. Sama'ans Church in the Mokattam district of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Egyptian Coptic Christian pray during the Easter Eve service at St. Sama'ans Church in the Mokattam district of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Across the world, Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter, commemorating the day followers believe Jesus was resurrected 2,000 years ago.

Roman Catholics and Protestants marked Easter last Sunday, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter this Sunday using the older Julian calendar.

In Egypt, Coptic Christians marked Easter with midnight Mass, holding candles and praying. In Russia, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President Vladimir Putin attended an Easter Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

And on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, men fired off handmade rockets overnight to mark Easter as part of a traditional ceremony.

Upcoming Events