6 January 2010
Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas Eve 6 January
MINSK, 6 January (BelTA) – Christmas Eve gets Christians ready for Great Feast and is held in strict fasting. The fast typically lasts until the first star appears on 6 January. The dinner that follows is very much a celebration. Kutya, a type of porridge, is the primary dish. It is very symbolic with its ingredients being various grains for hope and honey and poppy seed for happiness and peace. All of the food is served in an unusually festive and anticipatory manner and style. The Russians call this meal: "The Holy Supper." The family gathers around the table to honor the coming Christ Child. A white table-cloth, symbolic of Christ's swaddling clothes, covers the table. Hay is brought forth as a reminder of the poverty of the Cave where Jesus was born. The believers also attend divine services at the cathedrals and churches across the country to get spiritually ready for one of the greatest Christian holidays – the Nativity of Christ. Services in honor of Christmas will be held on the eve and on Christmas day in all Orthodox churches of Belarus Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk Filaret, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus will conduct an all-night service which will start at 18h00 in Holy Spirit Cathedral. An evening service in the Minsk cathedral will be broadcast by First National TV Cannel from 21h55 to 23h55.БЕЛТА