Orthodox Christians in S. Africa celebrate Christmas

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) – Thousands of Orthodox Christians following the Julian calendar in South Africa celebrated Christmas Eve Friday night, with religious leaders calling for world peace.

“We pray for world peace, the end to wars, and poverty,’’ Father Elias Palmos of the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Centurion near Pretoria told Anadolu Agency prior to his Christmas sermon.

He said the birth of Jesus Christ is important for Christians because it ended darkness and brought them light through the revelation of God to man.

The majority of Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar which was created under the reign of Julius Caesar in 45 BC. It runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar.

Reverend Daniel Lugovoy, rector of the Russian Orthodox church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg also prayed for the end of conflicts.

‘‘We pray for peace around the world, forgiveness of our sins and salvation,’’ he told Anadolu Agency via telephone Friday afternoon before the start of his Christmas address.

He said his church members have been fasting for 40 days and will break their fast after the Christmas service at midnight.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Ethiopian nationals dressed mostly in white traditional attires sang and danced at the Orthodox Tewahido holy trinity church in Johannesburg where they said their mass. Others hugged as they wished each other a merry Christmas.

“I’m grateful for having reached this important day of celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ethiopian national Abebe Sium told Anadolu Agency.

Komos Abba Goebre Kidan, leader of the Ethiopia orthodox community in South Africa, also echoed a message of peace and the end to global conflicts saying all humans deserve to live in peace.

There are several orthodox churches across South Africa, serving mainly Ethiopian communities, Eastern Europeans and a few from the Middle East, among others.