The Metropolitan Bishop of Zagreb, Ljubljana and Italy, Jovan, held a service in Zagreb. After the two-hour-long liturgy, the Zagreb parish priest Milenko Popovic read out a traditional message which the leader of the Serb Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pavle, gives for the Christmas holidays.
In the message the dignitary called on "the spiritual brethren" in the Diaspora but also those living in ethnically mixed communities in Serbia to show not only understanding but also love towards those who live with them.
Bishop Lukijan held the central service for eastern Croatia in the town of Dalj on Friday morning.
Extending seasonal greetings to the Orthodox faithful, Lukijan pointed out the importance of "sincere ecumenism in the area" and added that "over the past years dialogue between Christian religions has become appropriate".
The message of Patriarch Pavle was also read out.
Miron Vucicevic, the first assistant to Bishop Lukijan, said that "Christmas is a period for a sincere meeting of man with man," and that that this was proved by "sincere ecumenism in Osijek-Baranja County".
In this context Vucicevic said that for the first time this year "representatives of the Orthodox Church attended Christmas Eve Mass in a Catholic church, and representatives of the Catholic Church were also at a celebration of the Orthodox Christmas in Osijek."