Christmas services celebrated for Russian communities in Turkish cities
On 7th January 2021, the Christmas Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of Ss. Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the-Apostles, located in the territory of the summer residence of Russia’s Consulate General in Istanbul. Officiating at the divine service was Rev. Georgy Sergeyev, acting rector of the church, who is responsible for taking pastoral care of the Russian Orthodox Church’s flock in the territory of the Republic of Turkey. Over forty people attended the church on Christmas.
During the Litany of Fervent Supplication, prayers were offered for the deliverance from the coronavirus infection.
After the divine service Fr. Georgy read out the Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and greeted all the worshippers. Children who attended the Liturgy received Christmas gifts.
On the feast day of the Nativity of Christ the Divine Liturgy was also celebrated for the faithful residing in the Antalya Province. Conducting the service in the premises rented by the local community in the centre of Antalya was Archpriest Sergy Kazarin, responsible for taking pastoral care of the Russian-speaking flock in the Antalya region. Assembled there to celebrate the feast were over eighty people from Alanya, Kemer, Side and Manavgat. Among those who attended the divine service was Mr. A. Andrianov, staff member of Russia’s Consulate General in Antalya. After the Liturgy Fr. Sergy read out the Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and delivered a homily.
On 7th January, with the blessing of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Hieromonk Yermogen (Burygin) from the Donskoy Stavropegic Monastery in Moscow officiated at the Christmas Liturgy in the city of Izmir. About thirty worshippers attended the divine service conducted with the approval of the city administration of Izmir in the Church of St. Boukolos which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.
On 8th January, Rev. Georgy Sergeyev celebrated the Christmas Liturgy in the city of Eskişehir, 200 kilometres west of Ankara.
On 11th January, the commemoration day of 14,000 infants slain by Herod in Bethlehem, Rev. Georgy Sergeyev celebrated the divine service for the Moscow Patriarchate’s faithful residing in the Turkish city of Samsun on the Black Sea coast.
On 12th and 13th January, Rev. Georgy Sergeyev visited the Aegean Sea coast and celebrated the Divine Liturgies in the cities of Kuşadası and Izmir. Attending these services were about thirty people.
Patriarchia.ru/DECR Communication Service