On January 7, 2025, the Christmas Liturgy was celebrated in the church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Elena, located on the territory of the summer residence of the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul. The divine service, which was led by Priest Georgy Sergeev, who is responsible for the organization of the care of the flock of the Russian Orthodox Church in the territory of the Republic of Turkey, was attended by more than a hundred people, most of whom prayed and received communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
Believers of the Moscow Patriarchate living in the city of Bursa, as well as a group of pilgrims from Moscow, arrived in Istanbul for the festive Liturgy.
At the end of the Liturgy, Father George read out the Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and then addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. After the service, the children who attended the church received Christmas gifts.
Christmas services were also held in the community of the capital of the Turkish Republic, Ankara. With the blessing of the Hierarchy, the divine service, which took place in the Rossotrudnichestvo building, was led by a visiting cleric of the Kolomna diocese, Priest Evgeny Dolya. During the Liturgy, which was attended by about 100 people, staff of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ankara, the Russian House in Ankara, the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus, as well as compatriots living in the region prayed.
On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, a divine service was also held for believers living in the Turkish province of Antalya. More than 120 people from Kemer, Side and Manavgat gathered for the Liturgy, which was served by Priest Alexy Golovin, who is responsible for the care of the Russian-speaking flock in the Antalya region.
The Divine Liturgy in Alanya, Turkey, on the night of January 7 was led by Priest Dimitri Bogatyr, who is responsible for the care of Russian-speaking believers. More than 110 people prayed during the service.
Christmas services were held on January 6 and 7 for employees of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant under construction. The statutory services of the feast were performed by Hieromonk Palladius (Bystrov), a resident of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, who nurtured the community.
On the day of the feast, a Liturgy was celebrated in the city of Izmir, performed by Hieromonk Pamphilus (Osokin), a monk of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, who arrived with the blessing of the Hierarchy. More than 20 people took part in the service.
On January 9, a Christmas service was held in the city of Eskisehir, located 300 kilometers southeast of Istanbul. The Divine Liturgy was served by Priest Evgeny Dolya.
On January 10, Priest Georgy Sergeyev celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the faithful of the Moscow Patriarchate living in the city of Gallipoli on the coast of the Marmara Sea in Turkey.
On January 11, a Christmas service was held in the city of Mersin, located on the southeastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Hieromonk Palladius (Bystrov) celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the gathered 120 compatriots.
On January 11, the feast day of the Nativity of Christ, Priest Alexy Golovin celebrated the Divine Liturgy for compatriots living in the Turkish city of Fethiye on the Aegean coast.
On January 13, a Christmas service was held in the city of Samsun, located on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. The Divine Liturgy was served by Priest Evgeny Dolya.