MOSCOW, April 28 (RIA Novosti) - The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, will hold a divine liturgy in downtown Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral on Palm Sunday, which Russian Orthodox Christians celebrate this year on April 28, the patriarch's press service reported.
Palm Sunday, when, according to the Gospels, Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on a donkey, is marked one week before Easter. Believers flock to churches on that day to have their branches of willows, used instead of palms to celebrate the feast in Russia, blessed by priests.
Easter is preceded by a long period of fasting. The fasting period before Easter in Eastern Christianity lasts 48 days. The first 40 days of the period are called Great Lent, symbolizing Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness before being tempted by Satan. In the Orthodox tradition, all days are included into the day count.
The 40 days are followed by Lazarus Saturday, commemorating Jesus raising Lazarus of Bethany from the dead (this year, the feast falls on April 27), and Palm Sunday, and then by Holy Week, the last week of the fasting period. Holy Week lasts until Easter Sunday but does not include it.
The true purpose of fasting is to help people cleanse their souls of sin and learn to control their desires. In this way believers prepare for Easter, which Russia will mark this year on May 5 in line with the Julian calendar.
