Penza, 7 January 2013. PenzaNews. Church services took place across the Penza region to mark the Orthodox Christmas on Monday night, January 7. Christmas fast ended this day and Christmas-tide began, which will last until the Epiphany on January 18. Metropolitan of Penza and Nizhny Lomov Benjamin served a liturgy at Assumption cathedral with thousands of Penza citizens attending the ceremony.

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The temple could not accommodate all the parishioners who have expressed a desire to attend the celebratory service, and many were on the street.

Metropolitan Benjamin congratulated the parishioners on Christmas completing anointing liturgy – anointing of a believer’s forehead with consecrated oil.

Morning of January 7 in all Orthodox churches of Penza also began with celebratory divine services.

Christmas holiday, according to the Church doctrine, symbolizes reconciliation of the person good luck. Christmas announces an expiatory feat of the Christ and updating of the human nature amazed with fall of primogenitors.

Houses and churches for Christmas decorate fur-trees and coniferous branches which symbolize eternal life, and the tradition to dress up a Christmas fur-tree is connected with image of the paradise tree abounding with fruits.

Christians will glorify the world of the Savior during 12 days till Holy Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.