Second in a row Easter in a state of war (or “special military operation”) Ukrainians and Russians celebrated.

In a video message, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the “wonderful people” of the “wonderful country” with Easter wishes, as well as encouraging them in the war of survival against the Russian occupiers.

Zelenskiy referred to the “light” of the Resurrection literally, but mostly metaphorically, wanting to draw a dividing line between the “powers of light,” the Ukrainians, and the “powers of darkness,” apparently the Russians.

“Millions of lights in the eyes of millions of Ukrainians have united into one powerful beam of light,” says Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “A ray that helps us not to drown in darkness, not to go astray. It illuminates the path to a sacred goal. What past generations fought for in past centuries. That is why the warriors of light, the defenders of Ukraine, gave their lives for the last nine years and 417 days” .

Putin welcomed the “unifying” role of the church

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin attended the Resurrection Divine Liturgy in Moscow, at the Spassky Cathedral, together with the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergei Sobyanin. At midnight, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow said, “Christ is Risen.”

In his message, Putin praised the Russian Orthodox Church and said that the Easter holiday strengthens “the moral values ​​of our society.”

“I want to express my deep gratitude for your tireless and selfless work aimed at preserving historical, spiritual, moral and family values, educating and enlightening young people,” Putin said.

And he went on to praise the church for its “unifying” role: “Over the years, your prudent pastoral speech has contributed to the unification of society (…) Today, when we are facing serious problems, this is especially important.”

“Little Russians”

In his message, Patriarch Kirill said he was praying for peace and “fraternal relations” between the warring parties, whom he apparently understands as “Russians.”

“May the Lord bless the Russian land. And when I say “Russia”, I mean the country from which the Great Russians, Ukrainians, and “Little Russians” and other peoples come from. This is Russia, to which we all historically, spiritually and culturally belong,” said the head of the Russian Church.

In the past, Russian Patriarch Kirill justified the attack on Ukraine by saying that the Russian and Ukrainian peoples are brothers, separated by force, mainly by the West.

A view rejected by the Ukrainian government that speaks of a post-colonial and imperialist conflict led by the Kremlin and an intensification of raids and persecution of churches and priests deemed close to Moscow.

The Ukrainian authorities also drew the ire of the Russian Church by announcing the expulsion of monks from the famous Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, considered the “cradle” of Russian Orthodoxy, amid the conflict.

Patriarch Kirill condemned the expulsion of the monks in March.

According to DW, APE-MPE, AFP