Religion

Religion

Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas

07 January 2016 04:50 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Orthodox Christians around the world are celebrating Christmas on January 7, an event which 2016 years ago marked the beginning of the new history of mankind, APA reports quoting TASS.

Christians conclude a four-week fast during which they confess their sins and receive communion. And on Christmas Eve they have special fasting, "until the first star," in memory of how the Magi came first to the birthplace of Christ following the movement of the star in the sky. At present, a candle in front of the altar, which is lit at the end of the Christmas Eve service at about noon, symbolizes the star.

January 7 is Christmas day for Orthodox Christians in Russia, Serbia, Jerusalem, Georgia, and the monastic community of Mount Athos in Greece, one of Orthodox Christianity's holiest sites. A midnight mass also took place in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem which marks the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born in the West Bank town.