Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Churches across the city rang in Christmas with hymns and prayers late Wednesday night as denizens thronged them in large numbers and stayed up through the night.
Several more poured in at the churches after daybreak. Families were dressed in their Christmas best as they turned up at the churches to seek blessings for a prosperous new year ahead.
The Church of Christ (Union Church) at Unit –IV in the city held a service at 10 am which was attended by Governor SC Jamir. The service was followed by a scripture reading.
The night before, the church held a watch night service followed by Christmas carol scripture reading. Pastor Reverend BN Satpathy gave a speech to the congregation. The Church Union then held a prayer that continued till 1 am. “In the night about 400 people attended the service and the carol that followed,” said the Pastor.
A Christmas vigil mass in Oriya was observed early morning at the St. Vincent’s Catholic Church at Satya Nagar. The church hosted a cultural programme in the evening participated by school children. Huge crowds thronged the church. A law researcher Devyani accompanying her friends said, “On this day we are free and it’s a holiday so we are here to seeking blessings of the Almighty.”