MOSCOW, January 7 (RIA Novosti, Olga Lipich) - Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II congratulated all Orthodox believers with Christmas during a three-hour midnight Mass on Friday night. "Try to share the festive joy with the people around you, especially with those who are lonely," the patriarch told the believers who had gathered at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Russia's capital.
The Patriarch wished Orthodox Christians a "bright and happy holiday" and "spiritual joyfulness."
"Let this joy follow you through your lives and give you the strength to overcome all troubles and tribulations," he said.
About 5,000 people gathered in the cathedral to attend the service, including Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, head of the presidential administration Sergei Sobyanin, deputy speaker of the lower house Vladimir Zhiriniovsky and Russian Space Mission Control Center official Vladimir Solovyov.
The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas Day on January 7, in line with the old Julian calendar.
Under the statute of the Orthodox Church, Christmas Day is preceded by a 40-day fast, from November 28 until January 6.
