On the eve, Archbishop Dmitry of Vitebsk and Orsha officiated the Easter Matins and Divine Liturgy, as well as the procession at the Holy Assumption Cathedral in Vitebsk. At the end of the service, the Holy Fire from the Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Holy Sepulchre) in Jerusalem was delivered to the cathedral.
Today, the bishop, together with Bishop Drutsky, vicar of the Vitebsk Diocese, served a festive prayer service. The Easter greeting of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' was read. Congratulating the clergy and parishioners, Archbishop Dmitry emphasised:
– Feeling the grace of Christ's Resurrection, we must hold onto Divine love. God is spirit. Whatever happens in the world, the most important thing is God's mercy, which gives us peace, tranquility, and joy.
The head of the Vitebsk Diocese presented jubilee medals of the Belarusian Orthodox Church "1030th Anniversary of Orthodoxy in Belarusian Lands" to the First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Anatoly Linevich, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Vyacheslav Durnov, as well as to Nikolay Martynov and Galina Sumaneeva.
– Today is a very solemn holiday, the feast of feasts. For many centuries, people have greeted the Resurrection of Christ with love. Believers prepare for it, purify their souls, and afterwards, there is a re-evaluation of what thoughts and deeds life should be filled with. This holiday is a symbol of love, the victory of good over evil, life over death, – noted Anatoly Linevich and presented Archbishop Dmitry with a bouquet of white roses.
Vyacheslav Durnov also congratulated Orthodox Christians on Easter, which everyone meets with awe in their hearts, and expressed confidence that life in our Belarusian land will be peaceful and constructive. Which is what we all strive for.
The feast of Christ's Resurrection is celebrated by the Church for a week. This period is called Bright Week. However, the 40 days until the Ascension feast are considered days of Easter celebration, signifying the importance of Christ's Resurrection and His victory over death. During this forty-day period, believers greet each other with the words "Christ is Risen!" – "Truly He is Risen!"
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by