Putin met Christmas in the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral of St. Petersburg
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Christmas service at the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
The service was conducted by rector Nikolay Brynden. The Cathedral was filled with parishioners, many of them children. In the festive service was also attended by Plenipotentiary presidential representative in the Northwest Federal district, Alexander Gutan and acting head of Saint-Petersburg Alexander Beglov.
The head of the country came to the Cathedral at midnight. After the service He talked With the rector of the Cathedral and presented him with a gift icon " God Almighty ". In response, the rector also presented a gift to the President.
in the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral Putin met Christmas in 2012, as Prime Minister. At the same time, head told reporters that in infancy he was baptized in this Cathedral.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral traces its history back to the eighteenth century, the decree on its construction was given by the Empress Elizabeth in gratitude to the guards of the Preobrazhensky regiment for help in Her ascension to the throne. In 1796, the Cathedral received the status of " Cathedral of all guards ". In its present form It was built in 1825-1829, by the architect Vasily Stasov, in his own project, the fencing of the Cathedral, which consists of Turkish guns - trophies taken by the Russian army during the war With Turkey in 1828-1829.
in the main temple of the Northern capital - the Kazan Cathedral, the divine Liturgy was headed by Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofy.
Dmitry Medvedev With his wife Svetlana on Christmas eve according to the tradition, attended a celebratory service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The Prime Minister paid homage to citizens of Russia on the occasion.
"Merry Christmas," wrote the Prime Minister on his page in the social network " Vkontakte ".
Patriarch capital and all Russia Kirill on the day of the Nativity appealed on television to all believers of the Russian Orthodox Church and tried to convince them to dedicate this Celebration of good deeds.
He said that very close With each person today, there are those who need support and assistance. The feast of the Nativity of Christ, According to the first Hierarch of the Church, is " a great opportunity to show their best human qualities ", to give people joy and love.
Christmas is one of the main feasts of the Orthodox Church - is celebrated on 7 January (25 December old style).
in remembrance of the birth (Christmas) Jesus Christ's established Church Celebration - Christmas. The beginning of its celebration dates back to the apostles. In the Apostolic decretals says: "Keep, brethren, festive days and the first day of Christmas, which is celebrated Yes you in the 25th day of the tenth month" (March).
The feast of Christmas is preceded by advent, so Christians, the soul was cleansed by repentance and prayer, and the abstinence of food. Fast begins on November 28 (November 15 on the Julian calendar) and lasts until 7 January (25 December old style).
Concludes the celebration of the Nativity of Christ divine Liturgy - the divine service where the sacrament of Communion.
on the subsequent day is the celebration of the Synaxis of the Theotokos. Combining Christmas carols With hymns glorifying the mother of God, the Church points to Mary as to the person from whom made possible the incarnation. The feast of the Synaxis of the blessed virgin Mary in the Christian tradition is the most ancient festival in honor of the virgin Mary, the beginning of Her religious worship.
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