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His Holiness Patriarch Alexy celebrated Divine service in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral on Christmas night

7.01.2006 · Архив 2005-2009, События  

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Great Compline, Vespers and Divine liturgy in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral on Christmas night, 7 January 2006. Concelebrating were Archbishop Arseny of Istra and Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov.

Thousands of believers came to worship at Christmas service, attending which also were chairman of the Russian government M.Ye.Fradkov, head of the Presidential administration S.S.Sobyanin, chairman of the government of the Chechen Republic S.B.Abramov, representatives of the Moscow government, other federal and regional leaders and foreign diplomats.

TV cannel 1 and TV channel ‘Russia’ broadcast Christmas service celebrated in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

Christmas message of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia to the archpastors, pastors, monastics and all faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church was read out at the Divine liturgy.

After Christmas service His Holiness the Patriarch greeted the worshippers with the Nativity of Christ, that being also a dedication day of the Christ the Saviour Cathedral rebuilt for the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ.

‘The feast of the Nativity of Christ is always a joyful, radiant and salutary celebrations, as the Lord has come to the earth for us men and for our salvation, became man to redeem the world and performed His expiatory deed for the salvation of the world. On this day we feel very keenly that God is with us. As the Lord is with us, and we – with the Lord, we do not fear any trials’, His Holiness said.

The Primate of the Russian Church invited everybody to share the joy of the feast with all people and with those who are alone in particular. ‘Bring them the joy about the Saviour of the world and happiness of the feast of the Nativity of Christ. May this joy be always with you in your life, may it give you strength and courage to overcome hardships and trials.’