The Orthodox Christians this Sunday celebrate Easter. Contacted by IPN, priest Eugen Onicov, of the Chisinau Church “Saint Pantelimon”, said that according to tradition, the faithful should go to church on Resurrection evening mentally and bodily prepared. The Easter Vigil starts at about 11:30pm.

The priest said the Christians should go to church with red painted eggs, Easter bread and cakes for having these blessed after the Easter Vigil. After attending the service and having the brought gifts blessed, the Christians go home to celebrate Easter together with the family. They knock red painted eggs and say Jesus is Risen.

According to Eugen Onicov, the Easter Vigil is special as it includes feast songs that announce the Resurrection of Jesus, especially through the Resurrection Canon, which is the main song of this feast day. These paschal services are held throughout the week after Easter, which is called the Light Week.

His Holiness Vladimir, Metropolitan Bishop of Chisinau and all Moldova, in his Easter plea calls on the people to go to church and welcome the reborn Jesus and to take Light, truth, wisdom and love for truth from him. “The Resurrection of Jesus makes us confident that our life will continue,” he said.

In his Easter message, His Holiness Petru, Metropolitan Bishop of Bessarabia and Archpriest of Chisinau, said that Easter is a great feast day when everyone is full of joy because Jesus returned from among the dead. The Resurrection joy comes after a long road and trip called Lent, which is full of prayer and unconditional love for the close ones.