More than 1,500 Roman Catholics flocked Monday for a Chrismas night mass to Moscow's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
© RIA Novosti . Ilia Pytalev / Go to the mediabankMore than 1,500 Roman Catholics flocked Monday for a Chrismas night mass to Moscow's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
In photo: Archbishop Pavel Petsi, in the center, during the vigil
In photo: Archbishop Pavel Petsi, in the center, during the vigil
More than 1,500 Roman Catholics flocked Monday for a Chrismas night mass to Moscow's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
In photo: Archbishop Pavel Petsi, in the center, during the vigil
In photo: Archbishop Pavel Petsi, in the center, during the vigil
© RIA Novosti . Ilia Pytalev / Go to the mediabankThe rector addressed the congregation with a traditional Christmas greeting, "Christ is born -- give Him glory"
The rector addressed the congregation with a traditional Christmas greeting, "Christ is born -- give Him glory"
© RIA Novosti . Ilia Pytalev / Go to the mediabankDark ahead of the Christmas night vigil, the cathedral's interior gradually became lit up with lavish illumination in the course of the festive mass
Dark ahead of the Christmas night vigil, the cathedral's interior gradually became lit up with lavish illumination in the course of the festive mass
© RIA Novosti . Ilia Pytalev / Go to the mediabankThere were scouts in front of the altar, holding a lantern lit with Bethlehem flame, fetched from the town believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ
There were scouts in front of the altar, holding a lantern lit with Bethlehem flame, fetched from the town believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ
© RIA Novosti . Ilia Pytalev / Go to the mediabankOn completion of the mass, the rector consecrated a traditional Nativity set built in the cathedral's courtyard, putting a figure of the baby Jesus into the creche
On completion of the mass, the rector consecrated a traditional Nativity set built in the cathedral's courtyard, putting a figure of the baby Jesus into the creche
© RIA Novosti . Ilia Pytalev / Go to the mediabankFaithful attending Monday's Christmas night vigil at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Moscow
Faithful attending Monday's Christmas night vigil at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Moscow
© RIA Novosti . Ilia Pytalev / Go to the mediabankA parishioner during Monday's Christmas night mass at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Moscow
A parishioner during Monday's Christmas night mass at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Moscow
© RIA Novosti . Ilia Pytalev / Go to the mediabankParishioners attending Monday's Christmas night mass at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Moscow
Parishioners attending Monday's Christmas night mass at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Moscow
© RIA Novosti . Ilia Pytalev / Go to the mediabankParishioners during Monday's Christmas night mass at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Moscow
Parishioners during Monday's Christmas night mass at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Moscow