Russian President Vladimir Putin and dozens of others attended the Easter vigil in Moscow today, led by Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who is a strong supporter of the Russian leader and the war in Ukraine. A video of the vigil showed Putin standing in the main church of the capital, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, alongside Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, both holding lit red candles.
The Russian president made the sign of the cross on his chest several times during the vigil, which began late Saturday night and continued into the early hours of Sunday morning. When Patriarch Kirill said, "Christ is risen," Putin responded with others saying, "Indeed, He is risen," but he did not make any further remarks or comments during the service.
TASS news agency reported that the Patriarch prayed during the vigil for the protection of Russia's "sacred borders" and expressed hope that God would stop the "internal conflict" between Russia and Ukraine.
