Russians Celebrate Orthodox Christmas

MOSCOW, Jan 7 (AFP) - Russia shut down Monday for a mixture of religious devotion and outdoor celebrations marking the Orthodox Christmas as President Vladimir Putin hailed the church's efforts to revive Russia's spiritual heritage.

Long shunned under Communism, the January 7 festivity has rapidly regained its former eminence as one of the year's religious high points, and the country's political and cultural elite were out in force at the midnight mass celebrated in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

Three thousand faithful turned out to hear Orthodox patriarch Alexei II lead the ceremony.

Putin chose to spend Christmas eve visiting some of the ancient towns that form part Moscow's Golden Ring and are associated with the foundation of Christianity in Russia and the creation of the Russian state.

He attended a late night service in the Uspensky Cathedral at Vladimir, 250 kilometres (150 miles) east of the capital.

In his Christmas message, the head of state highlighted the church's role in "strengthening, together with ... other traditional religions, the spiritual health of our compatriots, developing patriotism, and promoting civil peace and concord."

Social growth and "the successful achievement of the tasks our country faces will be impossible without this centuries-old domestic spiritual and cultural heritage," the former KGB chief said.

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