Holy Fire sent to Orthodox faithful in Russia

A plane carrying Holy Fire from Jerusalem - a key part of the Orthodox Easter ritual - touched down at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Saturday evening.Russian state television broadcast video of the fire being brought through the airport, hours before the start of Easter services.

It was taken to Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, where a televised Easter service is scheduled to be held by Patriarch Kirill.

The Holy Fire is traditionally sent abroad to Orthodox communities after being lit - miraculously, according to tradition - at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter this year on 19 April, though most services in Russia will be held without a congregation due to coronavirus restrictions and will be broadcast online.The holy fire ritual dates back at least 1,200 years.

(Image Credit: AP)