The Sacred Message: how Muscovites celebrated Christmas

Traditional Christmas services were held throughout Russia on January 6 and 7. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia held a series of Christmas services at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. In a sermon on Christmas Eve, he wished that God's blessing would be upon "all of us, preserving deep faith in our hearts." During the night liturgy, he drew attention to the educational role of parishes, Sunday schools, and parents who help pass on the faith to "our next generations—children and grandchildren." How Moscow celebrated Christmas is in the Izvestia report.

Main Christmas Service

The main Christmas service was held at the Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. In total, more than 530 churches were operating in the capital on the night of January 6-7. On Christmas Eve, Patriarch Kirill noted in his sermon that "human morality, a sense of conscience, and nothing more are signs of vitality." And worship helps believers to mentally touch the most important event in history.: "The Lord has become one of us."

"This gives us the opportunity to somehow join in the mysterious, amazing, incomprehensible Divine deeds that have radically affected the development of the entire human civilization," the patriarch added.

According to him, the celebration of Christmas is accompanied by solemn divine services so that "the Orthodox people can realize all the greatness, all the beauty of the phenomenon of Divine love, through which the human race continued its historical existence."

May our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen us all in faith, piety, wisdom, and purity by the power of His grace. Our fatherland needs spiritual and material strength, and our rulers need to preserve their sincere faith in the Lord and Savior. May God's blessing rest on our president, on the authorities, on the army, and on all of us, preserving deep faith in our hearts and faithfulness to the Lord," Patriarch Kirill said.

In his Christmas sermon, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized that "having received from God what we have received, we must definitely pass it all on to our next generations — children and grandchildren."

— The educational role of parents, the educational value of our parishes, Sunday schools — all this is in great demand today. I believe and hope that by common efforts, including those of the state, today's children and future generations will grow up in the Orthodox faith, in love for the Fatherland and the Church. And may the Lord help us all to follow a path that will have good consequences not only for us, but also for our children and grandchildren," the patriarch said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also wished the faithful Merry Christmas.

"This wonderful holiday illuminates the world with the light of kindness and love, gives millions of people hope and the joy of joining the fatherly spiritual traditions passed down from generation to generation. Religious organizations pay untiring attention to charity and charity, take care of those who need help, support participants and veterans of a special military operation, and do a lot to harmonize interreligious and interethnic dialogue in our country," the message of the head of state says.

Vladimir Putin attended the Christmas service at the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in the Moscow region.

Believers came to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

During January 6 and 7, believers come to the service several times. In the morning, one must go to confession, then the liturgy takes place, in the afternoon and towards night — an all-night vigil, and at midnight the liturgy begins again.

Parishioners began to gather at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior two hours before the start of the service — at 21.00 to take a closer seat. They were met at the entrance by security guards, who carefully examined everyone to ensure that security measures were followed. Parishioners were asked to leave some things at the entrance: portable batteries and biscuits, for example, had accumulated on the table. Despite the fact that hundreds of people came to the service, there were no crowds: everything was organized. Zones have also been allocated in the church itself so that parishioners can disperse and comfortably listen to the liturgy.

There were quite a lot of young people in the temple. Victoria Otto, a youth worker at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, told Izvestia that they hold events for people from 18 to 35 years old as part of spiritual and moral education. This time they also came to listen to the liturgy.

— This is, of course, quite a tremulous expectation of the holiday. We always prepare for it in advance, and every night service, patriarchal, we are in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior," Victoria Otto said.

Some of the participants managed to attend the service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior for the first time.

— Christmas is magic, we all look forward to it with trepidation. God loves us all, sees us, and appreciates us. The main thing for us is to come to him, and here we are. I used to go to the Christmas service, but to the temple near the house. This is my first time in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and this is important and valuable for me," said one of the interviewees.

Another parishioner, Julia, decided to join the church four years ago. According to the woman, she was baptized, but had no special relationship to the church.

— It so happened that one day I got to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, started going to divine services, and now I consider myself a church person, I attend all the holidays, I finally have icons at home, - said Julia.

Nikita, a parishioner, noted in a conversation with Izvestia that "Christmas is the beginning of everything."

— It feels festive. We expect only good and bright things in the New Year, and we expect the light of reason to shine," another participant in the liturgy told Izvestia.

The parishioners noted the special atmosphere of the service and the high level of organization. According to them, Christmas remains one of the most significant and anticipated holidays of the year, uniting people and filling them with hope.

— We came in a wonderful mood. Moreover, the organization was amazing — it was very gratifying. Christmas is the main holiday for any Christian,— said parishioner Lidia Drobitskaya.

The place of worship was decorated with small fir trees, fir branches and roses. The ceremony lasted several hours. The parishioners, including small children and the elderly, spent all this time on their feet, but there was no fatigue on their faces.

How did the Orthodox celebrate Christmas

Parishioners willingly attended Christmas services near the house. Some even had to pray outside, as not all churches could accommodate those who wanted to. For example, the Church of the Presentation of the Lord in the Vykhino-Zhulebino area was packed even before the service began.

A line of people began to reach the church from 23:00, an hour before the night liturgy. At the entrance, Interior Ministry officers checked each newcomer, and Cossacks were on duty at the temple.

"There have been no incidents in recent years," a policeman on duty at the temple told Izvestia. — At most, we were informed about forgotten bags and things.

A nativity scene depicting the birth of Christ was set up on the street near the temple. The parishioners brought the children to him, told the legend and took pictures.

The staircase near the main entrance to the temple was decorated with Christmas trees. Several more decorated trees were placed inside.

"There are more people this year than last year," said one of the Cossacks on duty at the main entrance.

Twenty minutes after the start of the service, the Cossacks had to block access to the temple through the main entrance to avoid a crowd. Festive chants and prayers could be clearly heard through the loudspeakers, so people continued to stand outside. Those who arrived in wheelchairs were taken by elevator to the third floor.

Inside the temple, seats on benches were allocated for the elderly. One family even took care of a relative with sore feet in advance and grabbed a folding stool for her.

— I came with my grandchildren, one is 23 years old, and the youngest is nine years old. We go to all services together, this is our tradition," Antonina, a parishioner, shared with Izvestia.

There were enough young families among the believers.

"Our son has just turned two, so we won't be able to defend the entire service, it's difficult with a baby," said Igor, a parishioner. — As it is, we visit the temple every year for Christmas and fast.

During Communion, the faithful were divided into several queues, and girls from Sunday school distributed prosphora — liturgical bread and tea.

But the series of holidays does not end at Christmas: the faithful are ahead of Yuletide week and Epiphany, which the Church celebrates on the night of January 18-19.