In pictures: Orthodox Easter

1 of 9 Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter. Christ's picture was projected on the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.

2 of 9 Thousands packed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where Jesus Christ is believed to have been buried.

3 of 9 Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, led ceremonies in Istanbul, Turkey.

4 of 9 There, worshippers lit candles during the Easter Resurrection service.

5 of 9 Greek Orthodox priests "removed" Christ from the cross near the town of Messologi, 250km west of Athens.

6 of 9 Elsewhere, Greek revellers held flares to mark the joyous event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

7 of 9 Eggs and cakes are traditionally blessed for Easter.

8 of 9 In Serbia, Patriarch Pavle is revered during the Easter celebrations.

9 of 9 Hundreds of Syrian Orthodox Christians joined fellow worshippers in the mostly Muslim country.