Catholics of Southern Russia and countries of Southern Caucasus celebrate Christmas

Today, Russian Catholics are celebrating Christmas by festive masses that are held in all Catholic churches of Russia, including Southern Russia and the countries of Southern Caucasus.

The Christ's Nativity at night on December 25 was marked by Catholics from all over the world. From 800,000 to a million Catholics live in Russia, the TASS reports.

Armenia

Armenian Catholics have celebrated Christmas in the "Srbots Naatakats" Cathedral Church in Gyumri, where a liturgy was served by Archbishop Rafael Minasyan, the Catholic leader of Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Nine Catholic churches work in the Shirak Region, the "Armenpress" reports.

In Armenia, there are about 150,000 Catholics of the Armenian rite; there are 14 churches and chapels of the Armenian Catholic Church there.

Georgia

Georgian Catholics had their festive service at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Tbilisi, the "Echo of the Caucasus" reports. On the occasion of the Catholic Christmas congratulations were posted on the Facebook by Georgian President, Salome Zurabishvili, and Prime Minister, Giorgi Gakhariya, the "Sputnik-Georgia" reports.

Azerbaijan

The Christmas service and festive programme was planned at the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baku. On these days, up to 500 parishioners gather in the church. Among them are foreign diplomats, citizens of the USA, EU and Asian countries working in Azerbaijan, members of the Azerbaijani Catholic community, which is about 300 believers strong, the "haqqin.az" reports.

Abkhazia

In Abkhazia, the celebration of Catholic Christmas takes place in the Holy Apostle Simon Kananit Church in Sukhumi. The pre-Christmas preparations of Abkhaz Catholics were accompanied by the "Advent" fasting, which means "Advent" in Latin – the time of getting ready for Christmas. It lasted for four weeks, the "Sputnik-Abkhazia" reports. Father Jerzy, the Rector of the Church, has noted that the main event for Catholics is a gala dinner, the Christmas Eve. The whole family gathers at the table, where, according to the tradition, 12 dishes without meat should be served.

Catholics of North Ossetia, Stavropol Territory, Kabardino-Balkaria also celebrate their Christmas on December 25.