Roman Catholics and Protestants celebrated Easter in March, but Eastern Orthodox churches celebrated Easter this week, using the older, Julian calendar.
In Russia the President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attended a special midnight Mass in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow (pictured), head of the world's largest Orthodox Church, officiated the service.
Happy Easter ???????????#believe #Easter #easter2016 #easterorthodox #EasterLiturgy pic.twitter.com/4KmlzlpRt2
— Stephanie Marinova (@stefypmm) May 1, 2016
In Greece the celebrations looked slightly different with candles lit as a message to believers from heaven, according to The Washington Post.
Candles were lit with 'Holy Fire' from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, it was flown over the plane and taken across Greece so that parishes could access it before Sunday night.
The fire was also taken to other Orthodox countries, like Russia.
US President Barak Obama released a statement: "We lift up in prayer the members of the Orthodox community who have been persecuted for their faith and subjected to unspeakable acts of violence, and we seek the release of those who have been kidnapped."
He went on: "We remember those who have been driven from their homelands and we pledge to continue our work to ensure that all people are able to live in peace, justice, and freedom."
