Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas

SARAJEVO/MOSCOW

Orthodox Christians celebrated the Christmas with church services held throughout the Balkans and Russia. For Orthodox Christians, the holiday, the biggest of the year, marks the birth of Jesus Christ and is celebrated on 6th and 7th day of January in accordance with the Julian calendar. 

In the Bosnian capital, a Christmas service was held at the Congregational Church on Tuesday morning. Vicar Borislav Livopoljac welcome the congregation and Bosnian Cardinal Vinko Puljic gave the Christmas message:

"Christmas is a celebration of the eternal and timeless joy...." said the vicar.  

In Serbia where the majority of Christians are Orthodox,  the Congregational Church in Belgrade was well attended. Serbian PM and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic along with representatives of the Catholic Church and the Islamic Community in Serbia were present at the ceremony led by Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinej.

"Let the light of Yule fills us with love for ourselves and others, from our closest friends to every human being," said the patriarch adding that Christmas is a festival of God's love.

Orthodox Christians in Zagreb gathered in the central Temple of God's Transfiguration to attend the service led by metropolitan Jovan Pavlovic.

In Macedonia, the central Christmas liturgy at St. Climent's Ohridski Church in Skopje was attended by President of Macedonia Djordje Ivanov and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. The service was led by Archbishop Stefan.

"Let us love each other by deeds and values, not by words," archbishop cited a quote from the Bible addressing the congregation.

-Putin celebrates Christmas in Sochi-

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a ceremony  in Sochi on Christmas night on Monday. Sochi is due to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

There are also Orthodox celebrations ongoing in Ukraine, Georgia and Jerusalem.

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