Parishioners Follow Foreign National Traditions on Christmas

December 26, 2000

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On December 26, 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that "Chicagoans traveled many miles to attend foreign language services, revisit ethnic roots and refresh childhood memories" this Christmas. Susan Remington of Oak Park, the granddaughter of Swedish immigrants, celebrated Christmas in the Swedish tradition at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. During the service "former Swedish opera star Lennart Backstrom sang several traditional psalms and hymns in Swedish." Afterward, "traditional coffee and pepparkakor, or gingerbread snaps," were served. Larisa Leonidovna Harris, who had been forbidden to attend church in her native country, the Ukraine, drove to the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, "once the center of a Russian and Eastern immigrant community," to celebrate Christmas. About 100 parishioners celebrated an English-Slovenian Christmas liturgy. "Hundreds of candles illuminated the elaborate gold icons through a haze of incense. The service was led by Bishop Job and nine deacons, subdeacons and acolytes in full gold vestments." The church's first priest and archbishop, who were killed by the Bolsheviks, were also honored during the service.