Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas service held at Reading School

The Ukrainian community in the Thames Valley area celebrated Christmas Mass at Reading School

People from Ukraine have been celebrating Christmas Mass - Eastern Orthodox - in a school chapel.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian community in the Thames Valley area gathered for a service at Reading School's Chapel.

Some Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Day on 7 January, according to the Julian calendar, which differs to the Gregorian calendar.

Liza, 15, said: "It's really important for us because we feel like we are at home."

Liza, 15, described her Christmas in Ukraine last year as "so beautiful, so calm, so peaceful"

Liza came to the UK with her mother, Olena, and younger sister, Katya.

"Nobody ever expected we will be here today," she said.

"Christmas last year was amazing, we invite lots of my relatives and it was so beautiful, so calm, so peaceful, because I was with my dear people."

'Our culture and religion'

Julia Yushchenko,19, who is staying in Sunningdale, said: "It's important to be here today to respect our culture and religion."

She told the BBC she and her family left the Kyiv region in April 2022 and found their sponsor on Facebook.

"One of English volunteer help us, he was a bus driver who was driving us from Ukrainian border to Brighton," she said.

She said her grandmother, who does not speak English, was "so happy to be here with all of us and members of our family".

Organiser Mick Polleck said all the people that attended didn't know each other a year ago

"This time last year, all the people that will be here today didn't know each other," added Mick Polleck, organiser and deputy head of Ukrainian community centre.

"You have to remember that whilst we're here celebrating Christmas, their fathers, brothers, husbands, cousins, grandfathers, are still in Ukraine fighting."

An Orthodox priest from Acton attended to carry out the service for the members of the community

An Orthodox priest from Acton carried out the service.

Mr Polleck said a priest would be holding a service once a month. The next one will be on 15 January to commemorate Christ's baptism.