Russian radio broadcast a message from the Russian patriarch to believers on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas, and other reports from the Orthodox world marked the occasion.

Russian patriarch sends Christmas greetings to Orthodox believers

Excerpt from report by Russian Mayak radio on 6th January

[Presenter] Russian Patriarch Aleksiy II addressed all Orthodox believers - there are more than 260m of them in the world and about 30m in the Commonwealth of Independent States - in a traditional Christmas message.

[Aleksiy II] Pastors beloved in God, sanctified monks and nuns, God-loving congregation, it is with a deep feeling of spiritual joy and with all my heart that I congratulate you upon the wonderful festival of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

As in previous years, public life in Russia and in other CIS states and in the Baltic countries has brought us both much joy and much suffering. My pastor's heart goes out to the millions of people who lack food and decent living conditions.

We should praise the Lord, however, that political tension has eased slightly and our society is gradually moving towards peace and reconciliation. I hope that with God's help our peoples will continue building their lives according to the principles of peace, truth and faithfulness to their historic destiny.

Dear brothers and sisters. Each year brings us closer to an event of truly universal significance - the two thousandth anniversary of the coming into this world of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We hope that all people living on Earth will join Christians in celebrating this great anniversary, since there is no area of human activity which has not been affected by the high ideals of Christ's teaching.

I address those who are especially close to my heart, the dear children of the Russian Orthodox Church. I again and again congratulate each and every one of you upon the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and upon the New Year of Lord's grace. Let the Lord's blessing be on every one of you...

Source: Ostankino Radio Mayak, Moscow, in Russian 0836 gmt 6 Jan 98

Russian Patriarch Aleksiy II conducts Orthodox Christmas service in Moscow

Excerpts from report in English by ITAR-TASS news agency

Moscow, 7th January: A major divine service was delivered in Moscow's Cathedral of the Apparition of the Christ on Tuesday [6th January], marking the Russian Orthodox Christmas which is celebrated on the night of 6th/7th January...

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Aleksiy II, who conducted the ceremony in the old Moscow cathedral, congratulated all Orthodox believers on the great holiday, calling on them to fulfil the great mission of peace, truth and good. Moscow Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov attended the service, which lasted for several hours...

Source: ITAR-TASS news agency (World Service), Moscow, in English 2243 gmt 6 Jan 98

Yeltsin greets Russians on eve of Orthodox Christmas

Text of report by Russian Public TV on 6th January

[Presenter Arina Sharapova] Today [6th January], according to the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is Christmas Eve, once one of the favourite festivals in Russia and a surprising combination of church and popular customs. The president congratulated Russians on the eve of the festival.

[President Boris Yeltsin] Dear Russians, the joyous festival of Christ's birth is drawing near. This is a gladdening and especially festive day for millions of our fellow citizens. It was re-established in Russia in 1991 at a time when a new page was turned in our history, when lost valuable cultural traditions were revived and we returned to our roots and sources.

Russia is a secular state, but there are quite a few believers in our country and those who find consolation and hope, support and sympathy in the church. It is the personal affair of each person whether he or she believes in God or not. And the state respects that choice, guarantees freedom of conscience. Religious conviction is protected by the law and by our constitution, irrespective of which faith is professed by citizens of Russia.

Today is a festival for Orthodox Christians. And I congratulate you, all who go to church and celebrate this festival at home with their nearest and dearest on Christmas Eve.

According to the faith, on this night, good is bound to vanquish evil not by force but by truth.

Esteemed Russians, one cannot fail to notice the changes which are taking place in our country. Churches are being restored from ruins. With every passing day there are more and more golden cupolas, more and more churches restored and under construction.

This means people are seeking lost moral values, are trying to find their way to church. I myself go to church, too, albeit not frequently, and I do not do so out of any sense of duty but because I really want to.

My two grandsons are named after Boris and Gleb, Russia's holy princes, to mark the spiritual feats they accomplished to the glory of our fatherland.

Dear friends, at this time, I wish to congratulate from the bottom of my heart all Orthodox fellow-citizens, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Aleksiy II and the Orthodox clergy on this joyous festival, the birth of Christ. I wish you happiness and prosperity. May the fire of love, of good and faith burn forever in your homes!

Source: Russian Public TV, Moscow, in Russian 1600 gmt 6 Jan 98

Yeltsin extends Christmas greetings to Patriarch Aleksiy II

Text of report by ITAR-TASS news agency

Moscow, 6th January: Russian President Boris Yeltsin has sent a message to Patriarch Aleksiy II of Moscow and All Russia, in which he congratulated him on the festival of the birth of Christ.

"The Russian Orthodox Church has been carrying out its holy mission for more than a thousand years now, asserting spiritual and moral values on Russian soil.

It is indissolubly linked with the history and culture of our country and people. Its selfless and devoted activity has deservedly won recognition and respect," says the message, the text of which was passed to ITAR-TASS by the press service of the Russian Federation president.

Boris Yeltsin has no doubt that mutual relations between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church "will continue to develop fruitfully on the basis of the principles enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation and for the good of our Fatherland".

The head of state believes that the activity of the Russian Orthodox Church under the leadership of Aleksiy II will help reinforce the moral basis of the life of Russian society, the consolidate it and strengthen civil peace and accord in future, too.

Source: ITAR-TASS news agency (World Service), Moscow, in Russian 1353 gmt 6 Jan 98

Montenegrins mark Christmas amid shooting and explosions - Croatian report

Excerpts from report by Croatian TV on 6th January

[Presenter] In the other part of Yugoslavia - Montenegro - the demonstrations announced by [outgoing President Momir] Bulatovic's supporters did not take place. Dino Ramovic reports from Podgorica:

[Reporter] The celebration of [Orthodox] Christmas - normally thought of as a holiday of peace, accord and understanding - has always been a high risk occasion in Montenegro.

According to the police, this is also the case this year due to pronounced political undertones dictated by the recent presidential elections, and because the event is reminiscent of the long-gone times of purges against converts to Islam and the Turkish cause...

The festivities continued this evening in Podgorica, outside the temple under construction and outside the Church of St George.

Despite a heavy police presence, shooting from various types of firearms - mostly automatic weapons - went on for almost two hours, while outlying suburbs were rocked by powerful detonations.

The state-run media have still not reported on possible casualties and whether the police acted to suppress the carousal.

Only citizens of the Orthodox persuasion are on the streets, while others are at home, fearing for their safety ...

Source: Croatian TV satellite service, Zagreb, in Serbo-Croat 2115 gmt 6 Jan 98

Belarusian president sends Christmas greetings to Orthodox believers - Russian report

Text of report in English by ITAR-TASS news agency

Minsk, 7th January: Hard-line Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka on Tuesday [6th January] sent a holiday address to Orthodox believers of this ex-Soviet republic to congratulate them on Orthodox Christmas, celebrated on the night of 6th/7th January.

"This holiday has become an invisible milestone of spiritual revival of the whole mankind, of all Christians regardless of confession.

"Tolerance, kindliness, cordiality and love for people - these are the values promoted by all Christian churches. These have been the best human qualities absorbed by Belarusians with their mothers' milk; and these have become the traits of their national character," the address says.

Lukashenka wished that the Christmas holiday facilitated "a fair crop of high spirituality on the rich soil of Belarus".

On Wednesday, the president will attend a Christmas service at the cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Minsk.

Source: ITAR-TASS news agency (World Service), Moscow, in English 2307 gmt 6 Jan 98

BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©