Flickr / Kristina Savic
The anniversary of the first Orthodox church built in the Caribbean has been marked in Havana, TASS reports.
Celebration took place on November 4 in the temple consecrated in honor of the Kazan Icon of the God Mother. This year is the 10th anniversary since it was built.
Compatriots living in Cuba and local residents joined the holiday.
According to the rector of the church Father Savva, it is gratifying that the festive day fell on Sunday. This day people traditionally come to church and this Sunday notably many people gathered there. Cuban Catholics and Evangelicals joined them. The priest explained that they wished to share the holiday with the Orthodox. The performance of their choir complemented the celebrations.
He added that every year the number of baptisms and weddings increases. The trend may be explained by the growing popularity of the temple among Russians. Tourists and local Cubans come there.
Father Savva assures that in the future the temple will receive more Cubans. The priest explained that this is also one of the largest temples of the Russian Orthodox Church in America - it accommodates half a thousand people. Prays are read there in Russian and Church Slavonic and also in Spanish.
He expressed gratitude to the city authorities which helped to renew the facades of the temple by the anniversary. Now the temple “decorates Old Havana again”. The church is located in the historic center of the city.
In the morning, a solemn service and procession took place. In the evening, the guests gathered here again to celebrate the Day of National Unity. Among the guests there were immigrants from Russia, domestic diplomats, graduates of Russian and Soviet universities.
Russkiy Mir
