Christmas celebrated with religious fervour

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 25. Christmas was celebrated with its traditional fervour in the city today. Special midnight holy masses, poor feeding, cultural programmes and carols formed part of the celebrations.

Special holy mass was organised in most of the churches in the city from 10 p.m. on Sunday. In the Vettukad Madre De Deus church, the Vicar, Fr. Francis Ignatius Lewis, conducted the holy mass. The Bishop of Trivandrum, Rev. Soosapackiam, conducted the midnight mass at the Palayam St. Josephs Cathedral while the LMS Vice-chairman, Rev. Ben Gladstone, conducted the holy mass at the LMS church.

Amidst the sound of church bells, holy masses were organised in the churches in the city. Just before the mass, the image of Infant Jesus was brought by the priest and was placed in the crib set up in the church. This was preceded by rows of children holding lighted candles accompanying the priest.

Special Christmas feasts were organised in several Christian houses in the city. Many cultural organisations also organised Christmas feast for the inmates of old age homes and orphanages in the city. A voluntary organisation organised distribution of clothes, food materials and cakes for beggars in the city. Clothes and sweets were distributed to the inmates of the Anandanilayam orphanage at Manacaud by the district committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party in connection with Christmas.

The parishes of the Orthodox churches in the city organised a Christmas Sangamam at the University Senate hall this evening. The head of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore, Uthradam Tirunal Marthanda Varma, inaugurated the celebrations. In his message, he appealed to the people to develop cordial relation with their fellow beings and help to create a world filled with peace and harmony. Fr. Mathews Epiphanios Metropolitan delivered the Christmas message. Special Christmas carols and cultural programmes were also organised as part of the celebrations.

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Section  : Southern States
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