#Orthodox Celebrate Easter May 1 with Holy Fire from Jerusalem - Christ is Risen!

 Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter on May 1, 2016,  They remembered Jesus resurrection more than 2,000 years ago. Roman Catholics and Protestants celebrated Easter in March, according to the Gregorian calendar. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrated Easter this week, as they use the older Julian calendar. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev went to an Easter midnight Mass in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the world's largest Orthodox Church, offered the Mass with 5,000 faithful. In Greece, also received candles lit with "Holy Fire" from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The "Holy Fire," comes from the Edicule, the small chamber marking the site of Jesus' tomb. The fire was taken to Greece by plane and, and as customary, welcomed at Athens airport with the honors for a visiting foreign head of state. Then it was taken across the country by plane so it could reach the furthest parishes. The "Holy Fire" was also transported to Russia and other Orthodox nations.
POPE Francis Message to Orthodox for Easter
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his greetings to the faithful of the Eastern Churches who are celebrating Holy Easter on Sunday, May 1 according to the Julian calendar.
Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Regina Coeli prayer he said: “May the Risen Lord bring to our brothers of the Eastern Churches all the gifts of His light and His peace. Christos anesti!” Earlier, in a tweet launched through his @Pontifex account, the Pope said “I address a cordial greeting to the faithful of the Eastern Churches who are celebrating Holy Pascha today. Χριστὸς ἀνέστη!”
Meanwhile during negotiations in Minsk, on the occasion of the Eastern Orthodox Easter, it was agreed that Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists were to observe a comprehensive cease-fire in the south-east of Ukraine where the festivity is observed both by the Orthodox and by Greek Catholics. The armistice was supposed to go into effect at midnight Saturday, but according to Ukrainian government sources a soldier was killed and several wounded on Sunday in the country’s east in what appears to be a violation of the armistice.
In a message, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, urged the faithful to bear witness to the love of their neighbors amid the atrocities of the contemporary world which, he said, is torn by terrorism, wars and suffering.
The Orthodox Metropolitan of Italy and Malta, Gennasius, also issued an appeal “to purify one's heart” to be able “to fully feel the presence of the Risen One”, while the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Irinej, sent a message asking the faithful to forgive, “not to judge others” and “not to be afraid of the world in spite of worldly ideologies, disunity, hatred and violence.”