Christmas services celebrated for Russian communities in Turkish cities

On 7 th 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 7 th 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 8 th January, Rev. Georgy Sergeyev celebrated the Christmas Liturgy in the city of Eskişehir, 200
kilometres west of Ankara.

On 11 th 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 12 th and 13 th 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

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Christmas services celebrated for Russian communities in Turkish cities

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Patriarch

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