April 24 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin attended an Easter Mass on Sunday from the Russian Orthodox Church, which strongly supported the Kremlin leader’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Putin, dressed in a navy blue suit, white shirt and dark purple tie, stood by the side of Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral, holding a lit red candle, showing vivid images from the midnight service.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin hold candles while attending an Orthodox Easter service at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, April 23, 2022. REUTERS / Maxim Shemetov
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The Russian leader crossed himself several times during the ceremony. When Patriarch Kirill announced “Christ is risen,” Putin joined the other members of the flock in answering “He is risen indeed.” Otherwise he did not speak.
Speaking at an open-air service in Moscow on Saturday, Kirill said he hoped the conflict in Ukraine would end quickly, but did not condemn it. His statements in support of the intervention of Russia, which was condemned by Kyiv and Western countries as an act of aggression, split the world Orthodox Church. Read more
Russia says it is conducting a special military operation in Ukraine aimed at demilitarizing and “denationalizing” the country. Ukraine and the West reject this as an unfounded pretext.
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Report by David Ljunggren Edited by Paul Simao
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