Last night, the meeting of the Christmas people from Grblje and Orahovac took place on the waterfront in Kotor. Despite the rain and unfavorable weather conditions, a large number of believers gathered on the city's waterfront, where the New Year's Eve visitors from Grblje and Orahovac symbolically met.

Part of the citizens and believers were already at that moment waiting in the square in front of the church of St. Nicholas, witnessing the strong connection of the community with this custom.

On the city's waterfront, the archpriest of Kotor-Tivat and the parish priest of Kotor, archpriest-stavrofor Nemanja Krivokapić, together with the clergy, welcomed the Christmas people, sending the traditional greeting: "Good evening, have a good Christmas Eve!"

After the meeting on the waterfront, a solemn procession was formed that went through the streets and squares of the Old Town to the Church of St. Nicholas. In addition to archpriest-stavrofor Nemanja Krivokapić, archpriest-stavrofor Milenko Jekić, archpriest Nenad Kalem, priest Vojislav Mijatović, priest Jovan Vasić and priest Lazar Krstić took part in the procession, together with numerous believers.

After the solemn laying of the Christmas tree, the archpriest of Kotor-Tivat and the parish priest of Kotor, Archpriest-Stavrofor Nemanja Krivokapić, spoke.

"May this wonderful night be healthy for all of us, and for you Grbljani and Oravac people who brought these holy Christmas gifts, but also for everyone who tonight brought, above all, a clean heart and beautiful thoughts. That is why we gathered here tonight, to welcome the coming of Christ in a nice mood around the holy fire. When we ordered them, crossed them as befits and toasted with wheat and wine, we said: Happy Christmas Eve, revelers, we welcome you with wine and wheat, and God bless us with every blessing, happiness and progress. This is exactly the point of our gathering - to offer our gift to God, and to ask and ask God for a blessing", he emphasized at the beginning.

In the continuation of his address, Krivokapić spoke about the deep meaning of this holiday, reminding that Christmas Eve and Christmas are connected to an event that has been announced and awaited for centuries.

"Whenever we celebrate this holy holiday and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, we remember that this child is really real God, that God who created the whole world and all of us. That God comes personally to earth to save us. It is an event that was preached throughout the Old Testament, that the prophets and forefathers were waiting for centuries, and that was fulfilled two thousand years ago, in that seemingly simple moment when a small child was born in the cave,'' he explained in his presentation, recalling the symbolism of the gifts offered to Christ by shepherds and wise men, emphasizing that today's believers are also called to offer their gifts to God - a pure heart and love, primarily for God, but also for relatives.

Concluding his address, Krivokapić said that Christmas Eve is an invitation to gather in peace, prayer and togetherness, with the traditional greeting: "Peace of God, Christ is born!"

Mihaela Moskov

Text - Radio Kotor