Novo-Ogaryovo: Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a televised address on Sunday wishing Orthodox Christians well at Easter and telling the country it would overcome the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
"On this radiant holiday of Christ's resurrection, I would still like to say: All will be well, with God's help," he said.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter Sunday on April 19, one week after Catholics and Protestants.
Most believers in Russia were forced to watch Easter services online or on television due to restrictions on mass gatherings intended to stave the spread of the coronavirus, though some congregations still gathered in regions that did not impose a lockdown.
Russia's reported virus cases have jumped in recent weeks to 42,853 as of Sunday, placing it among the top 10 countries for the total of confirmed infections.
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(With inputs from AP)
