Parishioners came together prayerfully in their hundreds for Christmas Eve today.
In Bedford and Corby, parish priest Proto Radmilo Stokić served this unique Vespers in Church calendar along with theologian Milutin Stokić of Kansas City, USA.
In Corby, parishioners held special prayers (Moleban) for the Church, clergy and brothers and sisters facing persecution in Montenegro.
As usual, both Bedford and Corby could barely accommodate all the faithful who had gathered as people circulated in and out to gather their own blessed badnjak.
In Corby two wedding crowns were also blessed, a special gift from Aleksandar Bastajić and family.
Proto Radmilo remembered in prayer the faithful in Montenegro and Kosovo and Metohija whose festive celebrations have been marred by persecution.
Warm rakija was served by the burning Yule log which was prepared in Corby by the sisters of the ČKSS.
In anticipation of tomorrow's festival greeting:
CHRIST IS BORN !
TRULY HE IS BORN!