St. Mary’s Indian Orthodox Parish in Portlaoise, Ireland, held its annual Yeldo festival services on Saturday, December 24. The parish operates under the UK, Europe and Africa Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church.
Rev. Fr. Jithu Varghese, the parish vicar, presided over the traditional Yeldo celebrations, which featured a full program of liturgical ceremonies. The services included Nativity prayers, a circumambulation procession, a candlelight flame service, Holy Communion, and a Christmas message to the congregation.
The flame service, described as a beautiful reenactment of the birth of Jesus Christ, saw participation from all parish faithful. This traditional ceremony holds special significance in the Indian Orthodox tradition, symbolizing the light of Christ coming into the world.
The day’s celebrations concluded with a communal feast of love, bringing together parishioners to share in fellowship and joy following the sacred services. The Yeldo festival represents one of the most important celebrations in the Malankara Orthodox Church calendar, marking the nativity of Christ with centuries-old traditions brought from Kerala to the Irish diaspora community.