CHRISTMAS IN THE HOLY ARCHDIOCESE OF QATAR

Christmas was celebrated in Doha, Qatar, with ecclesiastical splendour and solemnity.

On Sunday, December 11th/24th, 2023, in the evening, the Vespers and Matins began and then the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Arabic, Greek and English.

On the morning of Monday, December 12/25, 2023, Matins and the Divine Liturgy were held in the Greek, Arabic and Romanian languages, in the presence of Mrs Ekaterini Thanou, representative of the Greek Embassy, and with the participation of the Christian congregation of the local Church. s. After the end of the Divine Liturgy, a formal banquet was held in the hotel hall of the city, which was attended by the clergy, the Ambassador of Greece in Doha, Mr Ioannis Ioannidis and members of the flock.

On the morning of Saturday, December 24, 2023/January 6, 2024, the Royal Hours of Christmas were read while in the evening Vespers, Matins and the Divine Liturgy were held in Slavonic, Serbian and Arabic languages, with the participation of many faithful, in the presence of members of the staff of the Embassy of Russia and the Embassy of Serbia. After the Divine Liturgy, a reception followed in the event hall of the Holy Church.

The services were presided over by the Most Reverend Archbishop Makarios of Qatar with the co-celebration of the Dean Priest Christoforos. Instead of a sermon, His Eminence read the Christmas Message of His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, in the languages in which each Service was held. The choirs also sang in their respective languages.

(Photographic material is attached).

From the Holy Archdiocese of Qatar