With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, on January 9, 2026, an interactive Christmas performance "New Star" took place in the Cathedral Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow — a story about sincere faith, hope, friendship, mutual assistance and understanding of what true happiness is in human life. 
The Christmas production was attended by children of convicts serving sentences of imprisonment in correctional institutions in Moscow, children of employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Moscow, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in the Moscow region, as well as children of the prison clergy of the Moscow (city) diocese. In total, more than 1,200 people took part in the event. Such a Christmas tree has become a tradition, and this year it has already been held for the tenth time.
Before the performance began, the chairman of the Synodal Department for Prison Ministry, Priest Kirill Markovsky, addressed the audience. Father Kirill conveyed to everyone the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and congratulated them on the great feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
The children watched the kind and colorful interactive performance with interest, sincerely worrying about the heroes who overcame the trials. After the performance, all the children were given sweet gifts.
The celebration was organized by the Synodal Department for Prison Ministry with the assistance of the Commission for Social Service in Places of Detention under the Diocesan Council of Moscow and the Charitable Foundation "It is Worthy to eat" (the head of the foundation is Ilya Aristov).