On January 7, 2024, the Christmas Liturgy was celebrated in the Church of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, located on the territory of the summer residence of the Consulate General of Russia in Istanbul. The divine service, which was led by Priest Georgy Sergeev, responsible for organizing the care of the flock of the Russian Orthodox Church in the territory of the Turkish Republic, was attended by more than a hundred people, most of whom prayed and received communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
Believers of the Moscow Patriarchate living in the city of Bursa, as well as a group of pilgrims from Moscow, arrived in Istanbul for the festive Liturgy.
At the end of the service, Father George announced Christmas Message His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, then addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. After the service, the children who attended the church received Christmas gifts.
The Christmas service was held in the community of Ankara, the capital of the Turkish Republic. The divine service, which took place in the Rossotrudnichestvo building, was led by Priest Yevgeny Dolya, a cleric of the Moscow Regional Diocese who arrived with the blessing of the Hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Liturgy, which was attended by about 70 people, was attended by employees of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ankara, the Russian House in Ankara, as well as compatriots living in the region.
On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, a divine service was also held for believers living in the Turkish province of Antalya.
The Liturgy, which was celebrated by Priest Alexy Golovin, responsible for the care of the Russian-speaking flock in the Antalya region, brought together more than 120 people from various settlements of the province: Kemer, Side and Manavgat.
The Divine Liturgy in Alanya, Turkey, on the night of January 7 was led by priest Dimitri Bogatyr, responsible for the care of Russian-speaking believers. More than a hundred people prayed at the service.
Christmas services were held on January 6 and 7 for employees of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant under construction. The statutory services of the holiday were performed by Hieromonk Palladius (Bystrov), a resident of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, who nourishes the community.
On January 7, a festive Liturgy was celebrated in the city of Izmir – it was performed by the cleric of the city of Moscow, Priest Vladislav Ratnikov, who arrived with the blessing of the Hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church. About 30 people took part in the service.
On January 9, Priest Georgy Sergeyev celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the faithful of the Moscow Patriarchate living in the city of Samsun on the Black Sea coast of Turkey.
On January 11, a Christmas service was held in the city of Eskisehir, located 300 kilometers southeast of Istanbul. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Priest Georgy Sergeyev.