Russia is celebrating Easter, the most important and joyful Christian holiday to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ following his crucifixion. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill has held an overnight festive service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

In his Easter message, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said that "the holiday of Easter celebrates the victory of life over death, for the Resurrection of Christ the Savior granted resurrection from the dead to all of us”.

Festive Easter services are taking place at over 30,000 churches of the Russian Orthodox Church worldwide. The latest public opinion poll showed that an overwhelming majority of Russians - some 90 percent - celebrate Easter this year.

Easter is a floating holiday with its date determined on a lunisolar calendar every year separately. In 2011, the Eastern and Western dates of Easter coincided to fall on April 24th.