An unbreakable link of generations, from WWII veterans to toddlers, gazed at Moscow’s night sky as some nine thousands fireworks brought joy, pride and sadness to their hearts, as all marked the 68-the anniversary victory over Nazi Germany. Fired from 14 different locations around Moscow, the city’s authorities made sure that everyone shared in celebrating a momentous victory that has brought unprecedented peace to Europe, at the cost of over 25,000 million Soviet lives.The fifteen minute display showcased 43 different aerial designs, each named individually. The showcase followed a script, where each shot was timed to a millisecond. The designs were especially simulated prior to the performance through software which coordinated some 72 salute installations and 18 pieces of artillery.The traditional festive artillery salute, also was performed in a majority of Russia’s cities, concluding the day of celebrations that started with a grand parade on Moscow’s Red Square. … Read More
Holy Week nearly over in Russia, Easter celebrations at hand
Easter services are also organized at all Russian Orthodox churches across the world, the number of which exceeds 30,000. After midnight and for the next 40 days after Easter Sunday, Orthodox Christians will be greeting each other with the words “Christ is risen!” expecting the reply “He is risen indeed!” The end of the short dialogue is celebrated by three traditional kisses.Christians celebrate Easter to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. The Resurrection of the Savior symbolizes his victory over sin and death.Preparations for Easter celebrations begin on the last day of the Holy Week, known in Russia as Passion Week. On Holy Saturday believers come to churches to have their paschal cakes and eggs blessed by priests.The Easter service begins shortly before midnight. Then, priests and believers carrying crosses and icons get going around the church glorifying the Resurrection. The service lasts several hours, well into the early hours of Sunday.Easter is preceded by a long period of fasting. Believers abstain from meat, fish, eggs and dairy products for 48 days, spending time in prayer. The real challenge is to help people refine their souls and learn to restrain desire. Russians celebrate the end of Lent by painting colorful eggs – as a rule red, as a symbol of the blood of Christ – they exchange with each other, and preparing rich Easter cakes with raisins and nuts. Easter is a moveable feast. Eastern and Western Christianity base their calculations on different calendars. The former uses Julian calendar, the latter Gregorian, so their Easter days differ. Last year it was marked by the Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and Anglican churches on the same day, which happens quite rarely. In 2012 nearly half a million Muscovites flocked to the country’s churches to take part in evening and night services across the Russian capital. The largest service drew 6,000 people and was held at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Patriarch Kirill, who heads the Russian Orthodox Church, led the Easter service in Moscow’s landmark Cathedral. … Read More
Greeks determined to celebrate Easter in style despite recession
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Easter for the Greek Orthodox faith is the year’s biggest festival, but hard times are putting the damper on celebrations and hard-pressed consumers are finding ways to save money at every opportunity.
The faithful are flocking into churches but traders would like it if they were flocking to the
markets as they did in the past. Easter Sunday marks the end of forty days of fasting, and is normally the occasion for a big family blowout. But people are buying less of everything after six years of recession, and with Europe’s highest unemployment.
“When prices are affordable, people would shop. The quality in our market is excellent and the prices are low and people come to shop. Due to the economic crisis however, they don’t buy large quantities,” says one butcher.
Greeks say they are determined to celebrate Easter properly, but when even the price of devotional candles is offputting and strains the family budget, this year may be a quieter affair.
“For the Greek Orthodox faith, the Easter message of the resurrection of Christ symbolizes the prospect of change towards a better life. After six years of economic hardship this message has become more symbolic than ever for the Greek people,” says euronews’ Stamatis Giannisis.
More about: Economic crisis, Greece, Religion
Copyright © 2013 euronews
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