Azerbaijani Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas

Orthodox Christians celebrate one of their most important Christian holidays, Christmas, on January 7.

The holiday starts on January 6 with Holy Evening, which is also the last day of the 40-day fast for Orthodox Christians. This day is a time of increased preparation for the celebration of Christmas. According to Azertag, the celebration of Christmas is a significant event for Orthodox Christians.

During the evening, after the sunset, the entire family gathers around the table to share a meal consisting of twelve fasting dishes, representing the twelve apostles. It is important to taste every dish, without leaving any untouched. It is also customary to have a lit candle on the table, symbolizing the warmth and light of life. The main dish of the dinner on Holy Evening is kutya, traditionally made of wheat, but can also be made with other whole grains. The grains in kutya symbolize people coming together in humanity, and honey or sugar syrup is used as a binding agent. This dinner marks the end of the strict Christmas fast, and on January 7, all restrictions are lifted, allowing for a proper festive feast.

The Orthodox Christian community in Azerbaijan celebrates Christmas annually, and the religion has a rich history in the country. The Caucasus region saw the emergence of the first Christian churches in Azerbaijan, and the peaceful co-existence of world religions has helped foster friendly and brotherly relations between people in the region for centuries. The country has never experienced any national or religious intolerance, and the Christians in Azerbaijan, along with other religious groups, are active and valued members of society. There are several Orthodox churches located throughout the country.

Every year, President Ilham Aliyev sends a congratulatory message to the Orthodox Christian community in Azerbaijan on the occasion of Christmas. The message emphasizes Azerbaijan's rich tradition of tolerance that has enabled people of different faiths and backgrounds to live in peace and respect for centuries. The diversity of religions and ethnicities is considered as a great achievement of the country, and preserving the democratic atmosphere of coexistence is a priority direction of the state policy.

The President is delighted that Christians in Azerbaijan have been able to preserve their customs and traditions, language and culture, and actively participate in social and political life alongside members of other faiths. The message acknowledges the exemplary relationship between the state and religion, which has created ample opportunities for people to express their religious beliefs while promoting progressive public values based on humanism and tolerance.

On the night of January 6-7, solemn services were held in all Orthodox churches of Azerbaijan.

Before the start of the festive Christmas service at the Cathedral of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, Archimandrite Alexiy (Nikonorov), Secretary of the Baku Diocese, spoke to journalists. He said that Christmas is a special holiday for Azerbaijan and every year the President of Azerbaijan traditionally addresses a message to Orthodox Christians. In the message, President Aliyev notes the high level of inter-religious dialogue and the special atmosphere, which is not only a landmark but also a hallmark.

Archimandrite Alexiy added that in 2023, all of Azerbaijan's lands were liberated from occupation, making it a landmark year in the modern history of Azerbaijan.

The representative of the Russian Orthodox Church also emphasized that there are forces in the world that try to mar our holidays. They are unpleasant to see Azerbaijan as a strong, economically and culturally developed country. According to him, not everyone likes that Azerbaijan is becoming a strong and influential state. Various attacks are organized against Azerbaijan, accusing that there is a problem here in inter-religious relations, as well as relations between the state and religion. However, in the past, the year before, and all previous years, religious leaders of Azerbaijan were invited to the most authoritative international platforms in the United States, Europe, and other regions. There, the most complimentary speeches were made to our country, and they were asked to share their unique experience. Unfortunately, the same people are now trying to denigrate Azerbaijan, which is characterized by a special spirit of tolerance and peacefulness.

Archimandrite Alexiy emphasised that despite these difficulties, Azerbaijan will confidently move forward. He noted that in a month the citizens of Azerbaijan will face a momentous event - presidential elections.

"Every citizen who has been waiting for the de-occupation of our lands for 30 years, who shares this joy, aspirations and hopes, must once again demonstrate to the whole world that our society is consolidated, that we remain the united fist we were in the past years. Today we must choose a political leader who will lead Azerbaijan into the future," he said.