Orthodox Christmas candles glow in Latvia

Jan 13, 2000
By Vineta Lagzdina

RIGA - The third largest religious group in Latvia, the Russian
Orthodox Church celebrated Christmas on Jan. 7, in accordance with
the old Julian calendar. Elaborate services were held on Christmas
Eve and on Christmas morning throughout Latvia. Archbishop Alexander,
head of Latvia's Orthodox church and based in Riga, sent a special
message of love and spiritual glory "on this jubilant day of our
Savior Jesus Christ's birthday." He wished his congregation "good
health, spiritual and physical courage, patience, and hope.

"May the year 2000 and the next 1000 years be filled with the Divine
Grace of God for all,"he said.

On the whole it is a quiet and respectful celebration, and a religion
independently approved in Latvia after Soviet repression by Moscow's
Patriarch Alexy II in 1992.

The liturgy used by the Orthodox church is known as the Byzantine
rite and is always sung. The language is Old Church Slavonic, though
there are churches where Latvian services are held, because up to 25
percent of Orthodox believers in Latvia are ethnic Latvians. But this
is not an issue, as the old language has a sonorous beauty and is
still preferred by most. Icons of saints fill the dome-like interior
of churches and congregation members carry lighted church candles
(tapers) and place them in prayer before chosen saints.

Orthodox believers pay particular service in remembrance of loved
ones, both living and dead, for whom they light candles, as well as
blessing their homes and work places by candle glow.

The meatless, dairy-only fast beginning Dec. 25 is finally broken on
Jan. 7, and a festive feast is enjoyed as families unite and share
gifts over Christmas dinner or lunch.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga also sent greetings to
Archbishop Alexander and all Orthodox believers.

"The most beautiful things in the world are neither visible, nor
tangible but can only be recognized by the heart,"she wrote. "The
birth of Christ is a time we are able to feel the eternal and
incomparable touch of Christmas joy."

She further wished to all " the most true and wonderful gifts
Christmas can bring - peace, happiness and love."

At present there are some 30 religions in Latvia, all registered in
the past 7 years. After the prominent Lutheran, Catholic and
Orthodox, there are Old Believers, Pentecostals, Presbyterians,
Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Krishna followers.

Jan. 9, the third day of Christmas, welcomed the sublime voices of
the male choir Pravoslavnije Pevcije, Russian Orthodox church singers
from Moscow, singing stirring Christmas liturgical arrangements to
full pews of believers and lovers of sacred music at Riga's grand
Dome Cathedral.

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