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Orthodox Russians and residents of other countries on Thursday, January 7, celebrate the Nativity of Christ. It was this event that was taken as the beginning of a new era in the history of mankind 2021 years ago, TASS reports.
Festive church services dedicated to Christmas were held in all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church. They began an hour before midnight and continued in the morning on all continents.
Patriarch Kirill led the service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior the night before. In a traditional message to believers, he called on people to pray for coronavirus sufferers and help others. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated the believers on the holiday, wished them good health, "endless joy and generous help from God."
The Primate of the Russian Church expressed confidence that the holy days of the holiday would turn into a special time for good deeds. Due to the unfavorable epidemiological situation, only 350 people were able to attend the service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Together with the Russian Church, according to the Julian calendar, the Serbian, Jerusalem, Georgian Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas. Also today is a holiday in monasteries on Mount Athos, among some Protestants and Catholics of the Eastern rite.
On the eve of Christmas, the many-day Christmas fast ends. It went on for 40 days. The last day of fasting is considered the strictest; for many believers, it is marked by a complete refusal of food. It is allowed to eat only after the appearance of the "first star" in the sky, which symbolizes the star of Bethlehem. Now the star is symbolized by a candle in front of the altar, which is lit at the end of the service on Christmas Eve.
Russkiy Mir
