Penza, 6 January 2017. PenzaNews. The Archbishop Serafim of Penza and Nizhny Novgorod led the divine liturgy of Basil the Great at the Cathedral of the Assumption on Christmas Eve, January 6.

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He was assisted by the cathedral clergy and Mitred Archpriest Sergiy Loskutov, hegumen of the Assumption Cathedral and secretary of the Penza diocese.

Divine psalms were performed by the choir of the Assumption Cathedral led by Olga Gorsheneva. 

The sermon before the communion was given by the priest Vladimir Olkhov.

At the end of the liturgy, the participants sang the Christmas troparion and kontakion in front of the Christmas candle, which symbolizes the star of Bethlehem.

After that, the Archbishop Serafim congratulated everyone on the coming holiday, the press service of Penza diocese reports.