Kyiv Metropolitan Holiest Volodymyr held the evening Easter service in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The guests included Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, speaker Volodymyr Rybak, members of the government and representatives of the Kyiv authorities.
Doors of Orthodox cathedrals were opened for comers all night long, and especially tough Ukrainians took the night service. In the morning, hundreds of thousands of people came to consecrate their Easter cakes and eggs.
Service in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra...
On Easter morning Kyiv residents gathered in groups near Lavra and were waiting for the holy father to sprinkle their baskets and families with holy water. According to the police officers, guarding the Lavra entrance, the night was quiet.
Press office of the Main department of the Interior Ministry in Kyiv reported for the time of mass festivities the patrolling of central streets and around religious buildings and structures was strengthened, as well as in crowded places, public transport stops and subway.
On Easter night police forces maintained order in all places of Easter services - 125 cathedrals and churches of Kyiv.
Quaint Cossacks in full regalia came to consecrate their Easter baskets to the Michael's Cathedral.
The biggest crowd of people gathered near the Volodymyr's Cathedral - at least a thousand people. People were coming and going, and the Cathedral simply could not contain all comers. No surprise the festivities were held outside.
Joyful "Christ has risen" was coming from everywhere, even children felt the importance of the moment and behaved. The early morning of Easter was rather cold, only 15 degrees above zero, but even the weather could not alloy the holiday and disturb its greatness.
Tetyana Hryhoriyeva, photos by Viktor Kovalchuk
