: Christmas was celebrated with gaiety and fervour across Tamil Nadu today, with a large number of faithful thronging churches, including the famous Santhome Basilica Church here, for special prayers and mass.
In Chennai, senior bishops and priests conducted special masses at churches and gave out the Christmas message at churches across the city.
A large number of thronged the Annai Velankanni church at Besant Nagar in the city, which was lit up by special lights, offered prayers and exchanged greetings.
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Faithful from various parts of the country gathered in large numbers at Shrine Basilica of our Lady of Health in Vailankanni in Nagapattinam district and offered prayers.
Tamil Nadu Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and a host of leaders have extended Christmas greetings on the occasion.
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A report from Velankanni said priests at Shrine Basilica of our Lady of Health, led by the Rector Prabhakaran Adigal, offered prayers in English and Tamil.
Church sources said a special prayer would be held tomorrow at 8 AM in memory of those who lost their lives in the December 2014 tsunami.
The faithful also participated in special prayers at New Jerusalem Church at Tarangambadi in the district, the oldest protestant church in Asia.
The church was built by Ziegenbalg in the year 1718 AD and is still in use.
