MINSK, 3 January (BelTA) – Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, will hold a Christmas Eve vigil service in the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk at 17.30 on 6 January, BelTA learned from the Minsk Eparchy of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
The metropolitan will also lead a Divine Liturgy that will start in the cathedral at midnight and an evening service at 16.45 on 7 January.
Christmas services will also take place in all Orthodox churches in Minsk. The full schedule of services in churches of Minsk and Minsk District is available on the website of the Minsk Eparchy.
In line with the tradition, believers gather in a church on Christmas Eve and get ready to welcome one of the greatest Christian holidays – Christmas. A special Christmas service is usually administered in Belarusian Eastern Orthodox churches on 6 and 7 January. Christmas is usually preceded by the Nativity Fast that runs 40 days and ends on Christmas Eve. According to the custom, on Christmas Eve no food should be eaten until the first star is seen in the evening sky, in commemoration of the Star of Bethlehem that heralded the birth of Jesus Christ.
