to religious freedom and to living as light in the darkness. On Christmas Eve, Christians gather in churches to celebrate the birth of Jesus, whom we hail as the Messiah, Savior and Lord.

If you are a Grinch with a grumpy attitude towards Christmas, here are some reasons that will recalibrate your perception.

The deacons in the photograph are holding an icon of Mary and the infant Jesus. Over the Christmas period, many Christian churches hold special services where children light candles stuck into ...