Orthodox Baku residents tell about celebrating Christmas with families

Christmas services were held in the Orthodox churches of Baku, Ganja and Khachmaz. Residents of Baku said that in their families the celebration of Christmas is a tribute to traditions.

Divine services began in the Orthodox churches of Azerbaijan at night on January 7. The main service was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Myrrh-Bearers in Baku, where the festive liturgy was performed by Alexander, the Bishop of Baku and Azerbaijan and the head of the Baku Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In Azerbaijan, there are about 160,000 Orthodox believers, a source from the Diocese's Secretariat has added.

Today, the hall of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was overcrowded. According to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, during the festive worship service, there were about 200 people there.

Irina Kargina, a Baku resident, has noted that she attends the Christmas service every year. "Not only Orthodox believers, but also our Muslim friends come to the event," the woman said.

Lyudmila Makarova, an elderly woman, said that on the eve of Christmas, she usually visits the graves of her relatives and comes to the church in the morning. When asked whether the Orthodox believers are facing problems in Azerbaijan, the woman replied that the problems are "the same for the followers of all religions."