Christmas, Kirill to Orthodox Church: Look to Christ "as the sun that lights the path"
by Nina Achmatova
Russian Orthodox Christmas in 60 countries around the world. Patriarch Kirill celebrates Divine Liturgy in the presence of Medvedev and 6 thousand faithful.
Moscow (AsiaNews) - It is Christmas for the Russian Orthodox present in 60 countries worldwide. More than 6 thousand faithful gathered last night at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, where Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy. In the front row with President Dmitry Medvedev, his wife Svetlana and many prominent figures from Russian politics and civil society. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, however, welcomed the Christmas in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in St. Petersburg, where he was baptized in 1952.
The Russian Orthodox celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar. This is "delayed" by 13 days compared to the Gregorian, which was adopted by Catholics, Protestants, some Orthodox - such as the Ecumenical Patriarchate - and the secular world. January 7, marks the end of abstinence from meat, sweets and alcohol, which began Nov. 28, and is a national holiday.
At the end of Divine Liturgy, Kirill urged all Christians in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus (the ancient Rus') to maintain their strong faith in God, looking to him as "the sun of divine truth, and in the light of this truth understand what is good and what evil, true and false salvation and death. " According to the Patriarch, many people in contemporary society "do not connect any light of truth to the cave of Bethlehem: they continue to worship idols and bind truth to strength and the power of humanity".
In his message for Christmas, Kirill had also reminded the faithful that "God became flesh in order to show the world his love and help those who want to listen to his word to find the fullness of life." As is tradition, the patriarch has also congratulated the Russian astronauts on the International Space Station, linking up live from his residence.
Many Russian politicians, however, starting with Medvedev, used Twitter to make their Christmas wishes. All but Putin, who continues to treat the web with contempt. According to a poll by the Levada independent center, 65% of Russians celebrate Christmas. The Moscow Patriarchate is the point of reference for circa 150 million faithful, 30 thousand churches and 800 monasteries in 60 countries around the world. On January 7, the Orthodox Christmas is celebrated in Georgia, Serbia, Jerusalem, the monks of Mount Athos and also the Greek-Catholics in Ukraine.
The Russian Orthodox celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar. This is "delayed" by 13 days compared to the Gregorian, which was adopted by Catholics, Protestants, some Orthodox - such as the Ecumenical Patriarchate - and the secular world. January 7, marks the end of abstinence from meat, sweets and alcohol, which began Nov. 28, and is a national holiday.
At the end of Divine Liturgy, Kirill urged all Christians in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus (the ancient Rus') to maintain their strong faith in God, looking to him as "the sun of divine truth, and in the light of this truth understand what is good and what evil, true and false salvation and death. " According to the Patriarch, many people in contemporary society "do not connect any light of truth to the cave of Bethlehem: they continue to worship idols and bind truth to strength and the power of humanity".
In his message for Christmas, Kirill had also reminded the faithful that "God became flesh in order to show the world his love and help those who want to listen to his word to find the fullness of life." As is tradition, the patriarch has also congratulated the Russian astronauts on the International Space Station, linking up live from his residence.
Many Russian politicians, however, starting with Medvedev, used Twitter to make their Christmas wishes. All but Putin, who continues to treat the web with contempt. According to a poll by the Levada independent center, 65% of Russians celebrate Christmas. The Moscow Patriarchate is the point of reference for circa 150 million faithful, 30 thousand churches and 800 monasteries in 60 countries around the world. On January 7, the Orthodox Christmas is celebrated in Georgia, Serbia, Jerusalem, the monks of Mount Athos and also the Greek-Catholics in Ukraine.
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