Bright Sunday

The Easter service, which was led by Archbishop of Tiraspol and Dubossary Sawa, was held that night at the Exaltation of the Cross Cathedral in the capital. The Parliament Vice-speaker Galina Antyufeeva came to the festive service.

The main Orthodox holiday was celebrated in many countries this night. Not only in Pridnestrovian, but also in Moldovan, Russian, Serbian, Polish, Georgian and many other Orthodox churches of the world.

Easter is the main holiday of the entire Orthodox world, which marks the most important event in the history of Christianity - the resurrection of the crucified Jesus Christ from the dead. The Russian Orthodox Church calculates its date based on the solar and lunar calendars. The feast of the Holy Resurrection of Christ was on April 16 in 2023. Alexander Korshunov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, congratulated Pridnestrovians on the important for every Orthodox person day.

Easter holidays unite people around high moral ideals and values, awaken the brightest feelings, faith in the triumph of life, goodness and justice. This was discussed many times in the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross after the service.

The Holy Fire was brought to the Holy Cross Cathedral from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem in the evening. It was brought by a delegation of clergy. According to tradition, Archbishop Sawa lit candles from the Holy Fire and handed them over to the participants in the service before the start of the procession. Archbishop Sawa congratulated the Orthodox people on Easter at the end of the service.

According to tradition, the longest service ended with congratulations to the Archbishop of Tiraspol and Dubossary Sawa, the clergy and parishioners and the illumination of Easter cakes and painted egg. The whole week following the Easter holiday is called Bright Week. These days, in all Orthodox churches, the royal doors remain open as a sign that by his death Jesus Christ opened the way to paradise for people. It is on these days that anyone can climb the bell tower and ring the church bells to share their Easter joy. There are no fast days on Bright Week. In total, the celebration of Easter will last 40 days, until the Ascension. Orthodox believers will greet each other with the words “Christ is risen!”, churches will be decorated with flowers and red Easter eggs, and the clergy will perform services in red vestments all this time.

Photo from the website of the PMR Government