Moscow, May 8, 2024.
On May 8, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the site of the Easter Gift festival on Tverskaya Square in Moscow, according to Patriarchia.ru.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was met by the Mayor of Moscow S.S. Sobyanin and Minister of the Moscow Government, First Deputy Head of the Moscow Mayor and Government Office, Head of the Department of Trade and Services of Moscow A.A. Nemeryuk.
The organizers call "Easter Gift" a festival of kindness and care. Charitable organizations and volunteers have prepared various actions, exhibitions, bazaars, lectures, master classes, lessons of kindness and inclusive performances.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and S. S. Sobyanin toured a number of festival sites, where they talked with guests and congratulated citizens with the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ.
The Primate of the Russian Church and the mayor of the capital visited a collection point to collect gifts for the "Moscow Helps" project, which has become part of the "Easter Gift" festival. This year, Moscow residents and guests can congratulate on Easter the fighters of the special military operation and residents of new Russian regions who need support and attention. Volunteers of the project "Moscow Helps" accept parcels that are handed over by residents and guests of the city.
As part of the festival "Easter Gift" on Tverskaya Street were also presented the works of the winners of the annual competition for the coloring of Easter eggs, organized in the churches of Moscow. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and S. S. Sobyanin talked to the winners of the competition on painting Easter eggs among art schools of the capital. His Holiness' attention was drawn to the Easter eggs dedicated to the traditions of the Russian Orthodox wedding. His Holiness spoke about the spiritual meaning of marriage, calling it a spiritual feat, and handed Easter gifts to the participants of the competition.
Everyone can take part in the "Easter Tree of Kindness" campaign to fulfill the wishes of the charities' wards. Moscow funds. At the site of the project "Easter Tree of Kindness" His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and S.S. Sobyanin removed Easter eggs from the tree, inside which were cards with wishes of those in need of help.
At the "Tree of Kindness" His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and S. S. Sobyanin addressed the media.
His Holiness congratulated Muscovites and thanked the mayor of the capital:
"I would like to cordially congratulate all Muscovites on this wonderful holiday, to rejoice with everyone at how much our capital has changed, how beautiful and well-maintained it has become. People of my generation, of course, have always loved the capital of the country, but they saw it quite different. And this revival of the capital coincided with the revival of our entire country, our entire Fatherland.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sergei Semyonovich for his care for the Mother See, sincere, real care, which has resulted in many of the changes we are witnessing. I would also like to thank Muscovites for their love for the capital and, of course, for their love for the country, thanks to which, multiplied by the love of the entire population of Russia, we have become a truly a great and, I would add, invincible power. And God grant that it be so that no internal problems destroy our unity and we become strong enough that no one would dare to disturb the peace of our peaceful life. And God grant that the spiritual values that our people lived by, thanks to which they became a great nation, be preserved in the minds and hearts of our youth and passed on to the generations to come.
Christ is Risen!"
S.S. Sobyanin, in turn, said:
"Happy Easter!
The Easter Festival in Moscow is coming to an end. Half a million people attended it, and a huge number of charitable foundations participated in these events. I would like to thank all Muscovites, organizations, enterprises that donated during these days to charitable foundations, for those who need your help, including those who participated in the special military operation. Thank you very much!
And a special word of gratitude, Your Holiness, to you - for your kindness, for your reverent attitude to the capital, to Muscovites. Thank you very much for everything you do. Thank you, friends!"
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In 2024, the main events of the festival "Easter Gift" were held from April 28 at 28 city sites: 3 - in the center and 25 - in residential areas of Moscow. Within the framework of the festival about 1400 creative and culinary master classes, 100 stage programs, more than 300 good lessons from charitable foundations, as well as a number of sporting events (competitions in squatting, push-ups, lifting weights, with jump rope, etc.) were organized.
The participants of "Easter Gift" were about 60 charitable foundations. Creative and inclusive master classes, concerts, theater performances and much more awaited the guests. Buying souvenirs with Easter symbols, guests donated money to help those in need. It was also possible to send a donation to charity funds as part of the "Easter Tree of Kindness" campaign.
Moscow Helps" points worked at 25 festival sites, where you can donate items for participants of the NWO and residents of new territories.
In 24 points of the city exchange "Give and Receive" everyone could share with others people good, but already unclaimed things (clothes, shoes, small household appliances, books, small interior items, sports equipment, vinyl records, etc.), and in return take what they like.
Traditionally on Tsvetnoy Boulevard and for the first time on 7 district sites was organized a special project "Four-legged friend", dedicated to the support of homeless animals and proper care of pets. The guests of the festival visited exhibitions of 15 charitable foundations - "Friendship Paw", "Giving Hope", "Yuna", "Dingo", "Nika" and others. If desired, you could take someone from the funds' wards home or donate to the shelters for food and other necessary things.
A special festival menu with traditional Easter dishes was prepared for the festival guests. It was possible to buy various souvenirs and gifts with Easter symbols.
