Socially distanced seating in pews and sermons delivered through face masks have marked another Christmas, with thousands flocking to church services around the country despite surging COVID-19 cases.
Hymns were sung through face masks while congregations around Australia gathered to celebrate their second Christmas since the pandemic began.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral emphasised the hardship of the year's lockdowns and the importance of the community reconnecting.
"After two years of lockdowns and pandemic, we've had enough of all that," Archbishop Fisher said during the service.
At St James the Great Parish in Melbourne, the in-person Christmas service allowed for the return of special services such as one dedicated to furry members of the family.
"For two years, we haven't had our St Francis blessing of the animals, so we're inviting people to come on Christmas morning with their pets," Father Paul Bower said.
"We're also having works done on the church, so everything is a mess. But that's what Christmas is about, it's about God being with us in our messy times and giving us some hope."
Hillsong cancels physical Christmas services
For the second-straight year, the Hillsong Church delivered a virtual Christmas service for its congregation due to COVID-19 concerns.
In a statement released on Friday, Hillsong announced the faithful would no longer be gathering in person for Christmas Day services in New South Wales, saying: "The health and safety of people is our top priority."
"It was the best thing to do," Hillsong founder Brian Houston said during the online service.
"There was some sickness amongst our team. And I would far prefer to see this place packed with people, but it is what it is and we're going to make the best of it."
Hillsong churchgoers in Queensland were put on high alert last week after a COVID-positive case attended Hillsong's campus in Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, causing several Christmas events to be cancelled.
Vaccination is not required to attend a church in Queensland under the state's health directives, nor do church employees fall under mandatory vaccination requirements.
Christmas mass in the city of churches
About 500 people attended a socially distanced midnight service at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral in Adelaide's CBD.
Adelaide's Archbishop Patrick O'Regan said it was "special" to be able to come together after a difficult year and despite COVID-19 anxieties.
He had a message of gratitude and support for frontline workers.
"I'd like to extend a message of hope to them that every other pandemic has ended, but it's because of people working together and these wonderful people doing research," he said.
"We will get through this, but we'll get through it together.
Archbishop O'Regan also offered comfort to those spending Christmas away from their families.
"I myself haven't seen my family in two years, but Christmas means we are not alone because we have a God who is with us," he said.
