Observing religious and cultural celebrations in connection with Christ’s birthday, Christmas services in Islamabad that started about a week earlier, have touched its highest point with the participation of hundreds of Christians from the federal capital, various small and large churches including Saint Thomas Church, Islamabad Church and Catholic Church.
Small Christmas celebrations and events would continue in local churches in various sectors where the poor and needy would receive gifts, rations and other basic commodities of life.
On the other hand, almost all churches in various sectors of Islamabad were beautifully decorated with liturgical colours including red and golden, accompanied with huge statues of Jesus in the main prayer halls.
In the Catholic Church F-8, Christmas celebrations were divided into two sessions following which around 9:30 pm a special prayer session was organised for the foreigners including diplomats and ambassadors from various countries.
Later, the locals attended the second session for Christmas services that begin at 10:45 pm and lasted till 1 am in the morning. Large numbers of Christians from various areas of the federal capital participated in the services.
A large model of “Bethlehem” depicting identical conditions and circumstances of the time of Christ’s birth was decorated in the prayer hall of the Catholic Church F-8, with toy models of shepherds and grazing sheep also displayed alongside the main decorations.
Prosperous people including the people from diplomatic circles delivered food items before the celebrations in the evening to facilitate poor Christians in celebrating the spirit of Christmas to the fullest.
Previously, Christmas celebrations started with carol singing and ringing of bells in the church.
Meanwhile, “Amand creed” was also performed by lighting the four candles for expressing delight and to apologise for past sins.
Arshad Maseeh from the administration of the Catholic Church told Pakistan Today that keeping in view the loss of innocent lives in terrorism, this year the Christian community had decided to lead special prayers for the protection of innocent lives and the country.
Christmas celebrations would continue until New Year eve, during which various religious rituals would be performed.
During the celebrations, tight security measures were observed at major churches and special walk through gates were installed to prevent any mishap from occurring.
Special police guards and church volunteers were also deployed to ensure strict security of churches in the federal capital.
