Russia celebrates Christmas

MOSCOW, January 8 (Itar-Tass) - Russia celebrated Christmas on
Thursday. Some 5,000 people attended the divine service at the Christ the
Savior Cathedral in Moscow. The night service was led by Patriarch of
Moscow and all Russia Kirill.
President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife attended the service. The
Patriarch congratulated the parishioners on Christmas, and wished the
believers "God's help in their private and family life, and peace and
prosperity to the Motherland."
The hierarch thanked the leadership of the country and all Russians
for their "steadfastness in overcoming the crisis year of 2009, noting its
importance for the establishment of national identity."
Addressing the Russian president, the patriarch underlined that the
government's policy prevented the country from "rolling back to the
terrible mark of that deep plunge at which it found itself as a result of
the political turbulence of the 1990s."
"The past year showed that our people and the authorities can go
through trials together, overcoming the troubles which befall our life. We
believe that living in accord with divine truth will give us tremendous
strength," the Russian hierarch said.
"We must thank God, for His kindness to our people, we must thank
ordinary workers who did not lose hope in the condition of the weakening
of the country's economic power, and continued to work," he said.
After the liturgy the president and the patriarch exchanged Christmas
gifts in the altar. Dmitry Medvedev presented a modern hand-written New
Testament with miniatures to Patriarch Kirill, while the head of the
Russian Orthodox Church gave a four-volume edition of the works of Russian
writers and poets of the 14th-20th centuries to President Medvedev.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin celebrated Christmas in
Kostroma, a historic city in central Russia, located on the banks of the
Volga River.
He attended the Christmas night service at the Church of Holy Martyrs
Alexander and Antonina of Rome together with its parishioners in the
village of Selishche in the outskirts of Kostroma.
The village that was first mentioned in the 16th century is located on
the right bank of the Volga River. Two wooden churches used to stand there
early in the 17th century. In the 18th century the local landlords
allocated funds for the construction of a stone church that replaced the
two wooden ones. The stone church has survived until today.
The church has a Sunday school for children. In summer, it organizes
an Orthodox children's camp.
-0-myz