Christmas in the Russian Far East

For the first time Ukrainian Greek Catholics participated in the Christmas liturgy in the Far East, in the city of Khabarovsk, which was celebrated by a Greek Catholic priest. On January 7 in the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity the festive liturgy was celebrated by Father Theodore Matsapula, BC, coordinator for Eastern Rite Catholics on the territory of the Roman Catholic diocese in Irkutsk. Father Theodore arrived in Khabarovsk from Omsk. Sisters from the monastic family of the Incarnate Word sang at the service.

Faithful of the Catholic Church were sent to the Far East mainly from Western Ukraine in 1949. Their descendents attended the Divine Liturgy.

After the liturgy the faithful sang koliady (Ukrainian Christmas carols).

"Today in the Far East there is no permanent Greek Catholic priest, but there are small communities that can participate in the service of their tradition every few years when a priest visits. We ask you to pray to the Lord so he will send a permanent priest to serve the faithful in the Far East,” said Father Theodore.

Press service of the Ordinary for the Catholics of Eastern Rite in Russia