Orthodox Christmas Is 7, January

[Kollyvas]

http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/01n ... rvices.htm

His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus Performs Holiday Services

at Holy Trinity Monastery

His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus performed all the services according to the monastic rule on the eve and the day of the Nativity of the Lord along with the monastic clergymen. After the festal trapeza, His Eminence received guests at his residence in the monastic house. Here, as is customary, Archimandrite Flor performed a brief moleben, during which His Eminence and the brethren were commemorated. On the second day of the feast, when the Holy Church honors the Most-Blessed Virgin Theotokos, His Eminence Vladyka performed Divine Liturgy at the monastery cathedral.

On January 14, His Eminence will perform Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign at the Synod Building in New York. Then His Eminence will depart for the St Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ. Here, the First Hierarch will perform the services for St Seraphim of Sarov.

His Eminence will perform the services for the Epiphany of the Lord at Holy Trinity Monastery, and on January 22, the feast day of St Philipp, Metropolitan of Moscow, His Eminence will perform Divine Liturgy at Epiphany Church in Roslindale, MA (near Boston).

[Kollyvas]

http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/01n ... rvisit.htm

Bishop Peter of Cleveland Visits the Ailing Bishop Daniel of Erie

on the Days Before the Nativity

On December 30, 2005, the feast day of Prophet Daniel, His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland and Protopriest Peter Burlakov, Priest Ilya Mrzev and Reader Alexander Petrovsky of St Sergius of Radonezh Cathedral in Cleveland visited His Grace Bishop Daniel, whom they congratulated on his namesday. Protopriest Pimen Simon performed a moleben according to the Old Rite along with Fr Peter, Priest Theodore Juriewicz and Fr Ilya. Bishop Daniel and Bishop Peter prayed at the service. Afterwards, a reception was held to honor Bishop Daniel. Bishop Daniel then invited the visitors to his residence, were he thanked Bishop Peter for his kind attention in visiting him on this day for the last several years.

[Kollyvas]

http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=29217

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy congratulates children at the Christmas party in the Patriarchal residence in Danilov Monastery

On 16 January 2006, Christmas party for children took place in the Patriarchal residence in Danilov Monastery in Moscow. It was sponsored by the International Orthodox educational centre of the Moscow Patriarchate. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia greeted children with the Nativity of Christ and told them about the birth of the Saviour of the world over 2000 years ago.

Children presented His Holiness with hand-made souvenirs and gave a Christmas concert. ‘We have seen today how gifted are children who performed in the concert and who made different articles with their own hands. – His Holiness said at the end of the feast. – One should not bury a talent, which the Lord has granted him, but multiply it. Every person has a gift of his own: it is either singing or dancing, either painting or handicraft, or even technical creative work. I wish you all to grow healthy and gifted and – what is even more important – good people, because all people should be good in their hearts, and be thus raised from yearly years’.

[Kollyvas]

http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?page=29191

Christmas holidays in Yekaterinburg Orthodox community for deaf

Parishioners of Yekaterinburg Orthodox community for deaf of St. John of Kronstadt joyfully celebrated the nativity of Christ. The parishioners started their preparations to the feast in December. Some of them participated in a festive concert, others made Christmas gifts for children and single parishioners, presents for kindergarten and school for deaf children.

Many deaf and those who have problems with hearing came to the festive Divine service in the Church of Three Holy Hierarchs. Many people came with their children and grandchildren. Grown-ups and children took the Holy Communion. After the Liturgy the parishioners congratulated the clergymen on the Nativity and gave them Christmas gifts.

The concert has become the main gift for all the present. Among the participants were children and grown-ups, parishioners and deaf people, priest and gesture translators.

L. Cheremera, chairman of Yekaterinburg community of deaf people greeted the parishioners and gave them Christmas presents.

The main success of the celebration is that deaf parishioners tried to give joy to their brothers and sisters in Christ. They gave their time, talents and attention to God and their relatives and friends.