Moscow, December 24, Interfax - Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II has sent Christmas greetings to Pope Benedict XVI and heads of other Churches that celebrate the holiday in late December.

"I cordially congratulate you on Christmas and wish you abundant grace from the Infant God, good health and Godspeed to your high service," runs the greetings received by Interfax-Religion.

On these festive days Christians follow the commandment of St. John Chrysostom to rejoice at God's grace and praise the condescension of the Lord, the patriarch said.

Head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Kirill also sent Christmas greetings to the pontiff and heads of other Churches.

Christmas is "declared unlimited love of God for the human race," his greetings run.

"I cordially wish you health and continual help of God to your high service," he said.

Catholics and the majority of local Orthodox churches with the exception of Russian, Serbian, Jerusalem and Georgian, celebrate Christmas on December 25.