Russian President
earlier presented the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God to the Transfiguration
Cathedral of St. Petersburg at the Christmas services.
MOSCOW, January 7.
/TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Orthodox Christians and
all Russian citizens celebrating Christmas, noting the role of the Russian
Orthodox Church in strengthening spiritual and moral foundations of society,
the Kremlin press service reported on Tuesday.
"Millions of
people all over the world are full with joy and inspiration on festive Christmas
days, they share deep feelings of being a part of the centuries-old traditions,
passed down from generation to generation," the message said.
"The Russian
Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations of Russia play a huge
formative role in strengthening spiritual and moral foundations of society, in
safeguarding our historical, cultural heritage, in educating young people. Such
a large, fruitful work is very important and deserves the deepest
recognition," the president said.
Russian President
Vladimir Putin earlier presented the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God to the
Transfiguration Cathedral of St. Petersburg on Tuesday at the Christmas
services.
For more than half an
hour, the President, along with other worshipers, took part in a nightly Divine
Liturgy, after which he briefly talked with the Archpriest of the cathedral,
Nikolai Bryndin, and presented him with an icon as a gift. In response, the
President received an icon of the Kazan Mother of God from Bryndin.
The Orthodox
residents of Russia and other countries are celebrating Christmas on Tuesday,
January 7. On Monday night, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia started
the Christmas service in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Further to the
Russian Orthodox Church, the Serbian, Georgian and Polish Orthodox Churches,
the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, Athos monasteries and some Protestants
and Catholics of the Eastern Rite also celebrate Christmas on January 7 or
December 25 according to the Julian calendar.
Christians conclude a
forty-day fast that lasted from November 28 of the last year until January 6.
On Christmas Eve, they have special fasting, "until the first star,"
in memory of how the Magi came first to the birthplace of Christ following the
star in the sky. At present, a candle in front of the altar, which is lit at
the end of the Christmas Eve service, is brought to the middle of the temple,
symbolizing the Bethlehem Star.
The Christmas
celebration continues for twelve days (the so-called ‘Christmas tide’) and ends
on the Epiphany Day on January 19.
Source: ITAR-TASS
07-01-2020
