Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the Transfiguration Cathedral with the icon of Christ Pantocrator as a Christmas gift.

Putin attended on Monday an overnight Orthodox Christmas service at the Transfiguration Cathedral in Saint Petersburg.

The service was held by the Cathedral’s dean, Nikolai Bryndin. The Cathedral was full of believers including many children. The service was also attended by Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Northwestern Federal District Alexander Gutsan and acting Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov.

The president attended the service with other worshippers for half an hour, briefly spoke with Dean Nikolai Bryndin and presented him and the Cathedral with the icon of Christ Pantocrator as a Christmas gift. Bryndin in turn also presented the Russian president with a Christmas gift.

As a rule Putin leaves Moscow for Christmas, while on Easter he stays in the Russian capital for a night-time service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

Last year Putin went to the Christmas service at the Church of Saints Simeon and Anna in Saint Petersburg. In 2017 he attended the Christmas service at the Spassky (St. Savior) Cathedral of the St. George’s Monastery in the city of Veliky Novgorod. In 2016 went for the service at a rural Church near Voronezh. Before that he twice attended Christmas services in Sochi.

Orthodox Christians in Russia and other countries around the world are celebrating Christmas on January 7, an event which 2018 years ago marked the beginning of the new history of mankind.

Christians conclude a four-week fast during which they confess their sins and receive communion. And on Christmas Eve they have special fasting, "until the first star," in memory of how the Magi came first to the birthplace of Christ following the movement of the star in the sky. At present, a candle in front of the altar, which is lit at the end of the Christmas Eve service at about noon, symbolizes the star.