Believers carry candles

Believers carry candles after a service in one of the churches in Kiev on Maundy Thursday, April 1, 2010. Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and is preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. This day it is necessary to prepare the body to Easter by bathing. That will help to protect oneself from troubles. On the evening of Maundy Thursday, the passion service is performed, after which the people return home with lighted candles. The candle protects house from fires and its habitants – from diseases. Photo by Vladimir Gontar / UNIAN