On January 7, 2022, on the feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Divine 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 service was led by Priest Georgy Sergeyev, who is responsible for the organization of the care of the flock of the Russian Orthodox Church in the territory of the Republic of Turkey, acting rector of the church.
Believers of the Moscow Patriarchate living in the city of Bursa arrived in Istanbul for the festive Liturgy. More than 60 people attended the Liturgy.
At a special litany, prayer petitions were proclaimed for getting rid of coronavirus infection.
At the end of the service, Father George read out the Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, then addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. After the service, those present in the church received Christmas gifts.
On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, a divine service was also performed for believers living in the Turkish province of Antalya. The service was held in a room rented by the community, located in the city center.
More than 80 people gathered for the Liturgy, which was performed by Priest Alexy Golovin, responsible for the care of the Russian-speaking flock in the Antalya region. The service was attended by the director of the Russian House in Ankara A. Sotnichenko, as well as an employee of the Consulate General of Russia in Antalya A. Adrianov.
At the end of the service, Father Alexy read out the Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, then addressed the faithful with a sermon.
For the first time this year, the Christmas service was held in the community of the city of Alanya. The divine service was performed by Priest Dimitri Bogatyr. More than 60 people took communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
On January 8 and 9, two Divine Liturgies were celebrated in the region of the Turkish Aegean coast in the cities of Kusadasi (Aydin province) and Izmir, which were performed by Priest Georgy Sergeyev. About 30 people attended the services these days.
On January 10, Priest Georgy Sergeyev performed a divine service for the faithful of the Moscow Patriarchate living in the city of Samsun on the Black Sea coast of Turkey.
On January 12, a Christmas service was held in the city of Eskisehir, located 300 kilometers southeast of Istanbul. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the priest Georgy Sergeyev.