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Parishioners of Russian Orthodox parish in Reykjavik organize Christmas performance for children

10.01.2006 · Архив 2005-2009, Новости с мест  

On 7 January 2006, on the feast of the Nativity of Christ, parishioners of the community of St. Nicholas organized Christmas performance for children of their compatriots at the premises of the ‘Mir’ Icelandic-Russian society. This children’s festival united dozens of Russian-speaking families residing in the Icelandic capital and its suburbs. Children sang songs and read poems in Russian, danced round the Christmas tree and became participants of the performance. Certainly, they received Christmas gifts.

Orthodox divine service was celebrated in the building of the Catholic Cathedral of Christ in Reykjavik at night from 6 to 7 January 2006. It was conducted by Rev. Timofei Zolotusky, Rector of the Parish of St. Nicholas of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On Christmas eve, the Royal Hours, Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great were conducted in the temporary Orthodox chapel at the premises provided by the Russian Embassy for the time while the question of building Orthodox church in Icelandic capital is under decision.

Among the present were: V. Poliakov, Russian charge d’affaires in Iceland, Rev. Hialti Torkelson, assistant to the Roman Catholic bishop of Iceland, and numerous believers from Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Georgia and Ukraine. Multinational Orthodox choir ‘Manasseh’ sang at the divine service.

Reports on the divine service and children’s festival were translated in the news on different channels of the Icelandic television. The rector of the Orthodox parish in Reykjavik gave an interview to the Icelandic television where he told about traditions of celebrating Christmas in Russia, history of the parish and its heavenly protector St. Nicholas.