City aglow with Christmas spirit; devout throng churches

Priests belonging to various denominations call for peace and harmony, compassion and brotherhood. Special mass followed by the Holy Communion administered to the devotees marked the day.

Priests administering holy communion to the devotees at Gunadala church on the occasion of Christmas in Vijayawada on Thursday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Rare warmth of the Yuletide enveloped the city on Thursday as people broke out into celebration of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Festooned churches buzzed with devotees gathering in large numbers to offer prayers to the Almighty for sending His ‘only begotten Son’ to this world.

Midnight mass

The all-pervasive spirit of Christmas had even non-Christians partaking in the celebrations.

Most churches in the city were chock-a-block as devotees trouped in large numbers to be part of the special midnight mass service that culminated in the festival celebrations. At the stroke of 12 in the night, the devout greeted one another hailing the birth of Christ. as the best thing to have happened to mankind.

Cynosure of all eyes

Special mass followed by the Holy Communion administered to the devotees marked the day. Lighting of candles and offering prayers before heading to the main mass is a ritual in some churches. At St. Cathedral Church on Nirmala Convent Road, a replica of baby Jesus exhibited in a manger was cynosure of all eyes.

The faithful came in a queue, folded their hands with heads bent down and eyes closed and touched the feet of the image before heading to their seat. In their Christmas message, priests at churches of various denominations called for peace and harmony; compassion and brotherhood. Speaking about the significance of truth and tolerance, they said that the sacrifices made by Christ for mankind should not be allowed to go waste.