By Mucahit Turetken
ISTANBUL (AA) – The Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul is celebrating the day of the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ with a special mass Friday.
The celebrations began with a mass held in Hagia Yorgi Church adjacent to the patriarchate’s garden, and led by Patriarch Bartholomew.
Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Amanatidis was also present at the four-hour ceremony, which is going to be followed by a cross-throwing ceremony at the Fener dock in the Golden Horn, during which the patriarch will throw a large cross into the sea to be retrieved by a group of swimmers.
Due to a difference in calendars, Jan. 6 marks Christmas Eve for many Orthodox churches and Christmas is celebrated on Jan. 7 rather than Dec. 25.
The majority of Orthodox churches worldwide use the Julian calendar, created under the reign of Julius Caesar in 45 BC, and have not adopted the Gregorian calendar, proposed by Latin Pope Gregory of Rome in 1582. The former calendar runs 13 days behind the latter.
