"matriarch"

#13146540

1 January 2026

St. Alexander Nevsky Bulgarian Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria, is illuminated on New Year's Eve, on December 31, 2025.

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#13128359

25 December 2025

The Divine Liturgy is led by patriarchs for Christmas in an Orthodox cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025. This ceremony, officiated in Latin with some Arabic words, refers to the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite, adapted into Spanish for the Latin American community. The Divine Liturgy with one's back to the congregation is popularly known as the Tridentine Mass (or Traditional Latin Mass), where the priest celebrates ''ad orientem'' (towards the east/altar), with his back to the congregation. This practice predates the Second Vatican Council and is perceived as a gesture of unity in prayer to God.

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#13128360

25 December 2025

The Divine Liturgy is led by patriarchs for Christmas in an Orthodox cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025. This ceremony, officiated in Latin with some Arabic words, refers to the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite, adapted into Spanish for the Latin American community. The Divine Liturgy with one's back to the congregation is popularly known as the Tridentine Mass (or Traditional Latin Mass), where the priest celebrates ''ad orientem'' (towards the east/altar), with his back to the congregation. This practice predates the Second Vatican Council and is perceived as a gesture of unity in prayer to God.

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#13128361

25 December 2025

The Divine Liturgy is led by patriarchs for Christmas in an Orthodox cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025. This ceremony, officiated in Latin with some Arabic words, refers to the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite, adapted into Spanish for the Latin American community. The Divine Liturgy with one's back to the congregation is popularly known as the Tridentine Mass (or Traditional Latin Mass), where the priest celebrates ''ad orientem'' (towards the east/altar), with his back to the congregation. This practice predates the Second Vatican Council and is perceived as a gesture of unity in prayer to God.

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#13128365

25 December 2025

The Divine Liturgy is led by patriarchs for Christmas in an Orthodox cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025. This ceremony, officiated in Latin with some Arabic words, refers to the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite, adapted into Spanish for the Latin American community. The Divine Liturgy with one's back to the congregation is popularly known as the Tridentine Mass (or Traditional Latin Mass), where the priest celebrates ''ad orientem'' (towards the east/altar), with his back to the congregation. This practice predates the Second Vatican Council and is perceived as a gesture of unity in prayer to God.

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#13128368

25 December 2025

The Divine Liturgy is led by patriarchs for Christmas in an Orthodox cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025. This ceremony, officiated in Latin with some Arabic words, refers to the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite, adapted into Spanish for the Latin American community. The Divine Liturgy with one's back to the congregation is popularly known as the Tridentine Mass (or Traditional Latin Mass), where the priest celebrates ''ad orientem'' (towards the east/altar), with his back to the congregation. This practice predates the Second Vatican Council and is perceived as a gesture of unity in prayer to God.

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#13128369

25 December 2025

The Divine Liturgy is led by patriarchs for Christmas in an Orthodox cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025. This ceremony, officiated in Latin with some Arabic words, refers to the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite, adapted into Spanish for the Latin American community. The Divine Liturgy with one's back to the congregation is popularly known as the Tridentine Mass (or Traditional Latin Mass), where the priest celebrates ''ad orientem'' (towards the east/altar), with his back to the congregation. This practice predates the Second Vatican Council and is perceived as a gesture of unity in prayer to God.

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#13128370

25 December 2025

The Divine Liturgy is led by patriarchs for Christmas in an Orthodox cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025. This ceremony, officiated in Latin with some Arabic words, refers to the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite, adapted into Spanish for the Latin American community. The Divine Liturgy with one's back to the congregation is popularly known as the Tridentine Mass (or Traditional Latin Mass), where the priest celebrates ''ad orientem'' (towards the east/altar), with his back to the congregation. This practice predates the Second Vatican Council and is perceived as a gesture of unity in prayer to God.

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#13128372

25 December 2025

The Divine Liturgy is led by patriarchs for Christmas in an Orthodox cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025. This ceremony, officiated in Latin with some Arabic words, refers to the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite, adapted into Spanish for the Latin American community. The Divine Liturgy with one's back to the congregation is popularly known as the Tridentine Mass (or Traditional Latin Mass), where the priest celebrates ''ad orientem'' (towards the east/altar), with his back to the congregation. This practice predates the Second Vatican Council and is perceived as a gesture of unity in prayer to God.

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#13128374

25 December 2025

The Divine Liturgy is led by patriarchs for Christmas in an Orthodox cathedral in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025. This ceremony, officiated in Latin with some Arabic words, refers to the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite, adapted into Spanish for the Latin American community. The Divine Liturgy with one's back to the congregation is popularly known as the Tridentine Mass (or Traditional Latin Mass), where the priest celebrates ''ad orientem'' (towards the east/altar), with his back to the congregation. This practice predates the Second Vatican Council and is perceived as a gesture of unity in prayer to God.

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#13128357

25 December 2025

A view of an Orthodox cathedral is in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 24, 2025.

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#13122135

22 December 2025

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, leads a Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish during his visit to Gaza City, Palestine, on December 21, 2025. Pizzaballa arrives in Gaza on December 19 for Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City, which hosts the Palestinian territory's only Roman Catholic church. The Latin Patriarchate says 135 Catholics live in Gaza. They seek shelter inside the compound of the Holy Family Church in the first days of the war between Israel and Hamas.

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#13122136

22 December 2025

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, leads a Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish during his visit to Gaza City, Palestine, on December 21, 2025. Pizzaballa arrives in Gaza on December 19 for Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City, which hosts the Palestinian territory's only Roman Catholic church. The Latin Patriarchate says 135 Catholics live in Gaza. They seek shelter inside the compound of the Holy Family Church in the first days of the war between Israel and Hamas.

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#13122137

22 December 2025

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, leads a Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish during his visit to Gaza City, Palestine, on December 21, 2025. Pizzaballa arrives in Gaza on December 19 for Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City, which hosts the Palestinian territory's only Roman Catholic church. The Latin Patriarchate says 135 Catholics live in Gaza. They seek shelter inside the compound of the Holy Family Church in the first days of the war between Israel and Hamas.

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#13122138

22 December 2025

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, leads a Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish during his visit to Gaza City, Palestine, on December 21, 2025. Pizzaballa arrives in Gaza on December 19 for Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City, which hosts the Palestinian territory's only Roman Catholic church. The Latin Patriarchate says 135 Catholics live in Gaza. They seek shelter inside the compound of the Holy Family Church in the first days of the war between Israel and Hamas.

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#13122139

22 December 2025

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, leads a Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish during his visit to Gaza City, Palestine, on December 21, 2025. Pizzaballa arrives in Gaza on December 19 for Christmas Mass at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City, which hosts the Palestinian territory's only Roman Catholic church. The Latin Patriarchate says 135 Catholics live in Gaza. They seek shelter inside the compound of the Holy Family Church in the first days of the war between Israel and Hamas.

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