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Christmas celebrated
Christmas, the greatest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated In the country as elsewhere tn the world, reports BSS
The Christian community in Dhaka, Gazlpur, NarayanganJ, Netrakona, Mymcnsingh, Chit tagong, Rangamati, Khagrruh-hari. Bandarban. Sylhct, Bari-sal, Panchagarh and other places of the country celebrated the day, marking birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, with Jubilation and religious fervour.
The programmes of the day included prayer al churches, exchange of greetings, decoration of Christmas trees and distribution of gifts.
Special prayers were offered in different churches seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country
Christmas trees were erected and replica of cowsheds were set up In the houses, community centres and hotels recalling the birth of Jesus Christ at a cowshed in Bethlehem about two thousand years back.
Defying inclement weather, the members of the Christian community Including the women and children attiring tn their best participated in Christmas carol in different churches.
In Dhaka, the Masses were
held yesterday morning In St. Mary Cathedral at Kakrall, Holy Cross Church at Luxmtbazar, Holy Rosary Church at Tcjgaon. National Major Seminary at Banani. Catholic Church at Kaf nil, Catholic Church al Naya-nagar, and Christian Church at Asad Gate.
Radio and television are putting out special progra mmes on the occasion.
The Christian community in Chittagong yesterday celebrated the Christmas Day with traditional enthusiasm and solemn devotion.
Festivities began Tuesday night with special prayers at different churches, Christmas Eve parties al homes bedecked with colourful illumination and Christmas tress and Christmas cake cutting amid carol sing-
St. Mary's Cathedral and Bethlehem Church at Jama) Khan and Holy Church at Patharghata were the venues of the large religious congregations where sacred scriptures were recited in praise of Jesus Christ.
Reuter from Vatican City says: Pope John Paul prayed for world peace and Christian unity Wednesday at midnight Mass, leading the world's 850 million Catholics into the Christmas season.
In his sermon before more than '0.000 people in St.
Peter* Basilica, the 71-year old Polish pontiff stressed the importance of Christ's birth.
Are w all gathered here.
1n this night of December, here as also around the world, only to remember an event which has passed into history, as the birth of every man -lasses Into history and gradually become a memory?" he said
The birth of Christ would never lose Ils freshness and significance and God would always play a role tn the life of mankind, he said.
The massive Basilica echoed with song as prayers for the arrival of the Messiah were chanted. The Mass was televised live tn more than 40 countries, including many republic* in the former Soviet Union.
AP says: The Archbishop of Canterbury celebrated the release of Anglican envoy Terry Waite and offered prayers at Christmas for all those still v held unjustly.
In his first Christmas scr mon as spiritual head of the Church of England and leader if the world's 70 million Anglicans. George Carey said Waite's efforts to free hostages in Beirut were an example of how faith is turned into action.
(Related story on Page 5)