Top Serbian officials send Christmas greetings

President Tomislav Nikolic carries a 'badnja' into the Presidency building in Belgrade (Tanjug)

Top Serbian officials send Christmas greetings

BELGRADE -- Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has wished a merry Christmas to all priests and members of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the government said in a statement.

"Your Holiness, may you, the priests, monks and religious people who celebrate the most joyous Christian holiday, the birth of Christ, according to the Julian calendar spend this Christmas in peace, love and harmony," Vucic said in a message addressed to Patriarch Irinej.

"May the warmth of the badnjak (ceremonial oak branch) and the light of Bethlehem wake up love and tolerance in our hearts as the main focus of the Christian Orthodox faith. Merry Christmas," he added.

Serbia's majority Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Eve on Tuesday and Christmas on Wednesday, according to the Julian calendar.

Other officials, including National Assembly President Maja Gojkovic, Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali, Vojvodina Provincial Government President Bojan Pajtic, Vojvodina Provincial Assembly President Istvan Pasztor, and National Assembly Committee on Human and Minority Rights President Meho Omerovic also sent their Christmas greetings to the Church and the citizens.

Mufti of Serbia Muhamed Jusufspahic also joined in with the holiday greetings, as did Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakic, and many Serbian cabinet ministers and other officials.

Continue reading on: