Christmas cheer all around: Message for peace rings out
Christians throng churches in the city which were decorated with Christmas trees
Christians attend Christmas Day mass at a church in Peshawar. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
With the merry tune of Jingle Bells reverberating through the cold winter air, children streamed past decorated church gates lined with ushers dressed in traditional red robes attributed to Santa Claus for Christmas Mass.
Festivities were in the air as the Christian community of Peshawar celebrated Christmas amid tight security on Monday.
Christians of all ages gathered at several churches in the city, including some which were built in the British era, to celebrate the occasion. They also offered special prayers for those who lost their lives in terror attacks — particularly the nine people who died in a gun and bomb attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta earlier this month.
The biggest Christmas mass was held at St. John Cathedral where Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters, the Bishop of Peshawar, led the main congregation.
Christians in twin cities celebrate Christmas
“Christmas calls for peace, reconciliation and interfaith harmony for the promotion of a tolerant society,” said Peters while explaining the philosophy of Christmas.
“Let’s all work day and night for the promotion of peace and harmony in the world.”
“Our Christmas begins with prayers and ends with prayers,” said Waqar Masih who was attending the morning mass at St Michael’s Church with his family.
“In the city, we did not have celebrations like those in other parts of the world,” the 30-year-old added, noting that after Christmas services, they visit and receive their friends and families. Masih alluded to the recent attack in Quetta, noting that it had revived old wounds left by terror and evoked memories of terrible double suicide bombing on All Saint’s Church in 2013 which left over 120 people dead and over 250 injured.
However, most chose to celebrate the day with women and children donning colourful clothes. The historical churches were decorated with colourful lights, Santa Claus and Christmas trees.
During the morning mass, the spacious halls of churches resonated with a chorus of hymns and Christmas carols.
“Everyone has made an effort to play their role in the decorations [of the churches],” Masih said. “One never tires of listening to those wonderful songs which share the joy of Christmas.”
Preparation for Christmas usually begins when December starts. Christian families start shopping for new clothes and decorative items from the few stores dedicated to Christmas items.
“There is usually a demand for artificial Christmas trees, red Santa robes and colourful lights,” said a toy store owner. “But this year we did not sell out as we used to in the past, mainly due to the low purchasing power of families.”
Tight security
Before Christmas celebrations began in earnest, police officials charted a stringent security plan.
Senior police officials and even troops from the army visited the churches in the provincial capital and discussed the security situation with church administration.
Apart from stationing security officials outside the buildings, churches also ensured that a group of volunteers, including men and women, would be deployed to only allow inside those whom they knew and could produce identification.
Christians in K-P
Among the minorities living in the diverse city of Peshawar, Christians are among the largest group. Hindus make up the other major group of religious minorities in the city.
There are 14 main churches in the city. The Diocese of Peshawar and Church of Pakistan suggest that there are over 165,000 Christians in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and the northern areas of the country.
COAS visits church in Rawalpindi,attends Christmas festivities
Most of these, around 55 per cent, are affiliated with the Church of Pakistan. As many as 40 per cent identify themselves as Catholics.
Another five per cent are Full Gospel, Bible Church and Anglican Orthodox.
Most Christians in Peshawar are ethnically Punjabis,
“Of them, 80 per cent are mainly employed in menial work,” the diocese of Peshawar said.
”They have been unable to improve their social and economic status.”
The Diocese of Peshawar is one of the eight dioceses which make up the Church of Pakistan (CoP) which was formed in 1970.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2017.
With the merry tune of Jingle Bells reverberating through the cold winter air, children streamed past decorated church gates lined with ushers dressed in traditional red robes attributed to Santa Claus for Christmas Mass.
Festivities were in the air as the Christian community of Peshawar celebrated Christmas amid tight security on Monday.
Christians of all ages gathered at several churches in the city, including some which were built in the British era, to celebrate the occasion. They also offered special prayers for those who lost their lives in terror attacks — particularly the nine people who died in a gun and bomb attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta earlier this month.
The biggest Christmas mass was held at St. John Cathedral where Humphrey Sarfaraz Peters, the Bishop of Peshawar, led the main congregation.
Christians in twin cities celebrate Christmas
“Christmas calls for peace, reconciliation and interfaith harmony for the promotion of a tolerant society,” said Peters while explaining the philosophy of Christmas.
“Let’s all work day and night for the promotion of peace and harmony in the world.”
“Our Christmas begins with prayers and ends with prayers,” said Waqar Masih who was attending the morning mass at St Michael’s Church with his family.
“In the city, we did not have celebrations like those in other parts of the world,” the 30-year-old added, noting that after Christmas services, they visit and receive their friends and families. Masih alluded to the recent attack in Quetta, noting that it had revived old wounds left by terror and evoked memories of terrible double suicide bombing on All Saint’s Church in 2013 which left over 120 people dead and over 250 injured.
However, most chose to celebrate the day with women and children donning colourful clothes. The historical churches were decorated with colourful lights, Santa Claus and Christmas trees.
During the morning mass, the spacious halls of churches resonated with a chorus of hymns and Christmas carols.
“Everyone has made an effort to play their role in the decorations [of the churches],” Masih said. “One never tires of listening to those wonderful songs which share the joy of Christmas.”
Preparation for Christmas usually begins when December starts. Christian families start shopping for new clothes and decorative items from the few stores dedicated to Christmas items.
“There is usually a demand for artificial Christmas trees, red Santa robes and colourful lights,” said a toy store owner. “But this year we did not sell out as we used to in the past, mainly due to the low purchasing power of families.”
Tight security
Before Christmas celebrations began in earnest, police officials charted a stringent security plan.
Senior police officials and even troops from the army visited the churches in the provincial capital and discussed the security situation with church administration.
Apart from stationing security officials outside the buildings, churches also ensured that a group of volunteers, including men and women, would be deployed to only allow inside those whom they knew and could produce identification.
Christians in K-P
Among the minorities living in the diverse city of Peshawar, Christians are among the largest group. Hindus make up the other major group of religious minorities in the city.
There are 14 main churches in the city. The Diocese of Peshawar and Church of Pakistan suggest that there are over 165,000 Christians in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and the northern areas of the country.
COAS visits church in Rawalpindi,attends Christmas festivities
Most of these, around 55 per cent, are affiliated with the Church of Pakistan. As many as 40 per cent identify themselves as Catholics.
Another five per cent are Full Gospel, Bible Church and Anglican Orthodox.
Most Christians in Peshawar are ethnically Punjabis,
“Of them, 80 per cent are mainly employed in menial work,” the diocese of Peshawar said.
”They have been unable to improve their social and economic status.”
The Diocese of Peshawar is one of the eight dioceses which make up the Church of Pakistan (CoP) which was formed in 1970.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2017.