Orthodox Christians in Ukraine have prepared to celebrate on December 25 for the first time instead of January 7. Many believers took part in the Christmas Eve services on Sunday. The majority supported Kiev’s decision last summer to change the Christmas date to distance itself from Russia.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, spoke of a “local turning point”.
For the first time, Ukraine “will celebrate Christmas together with the whole world on December 25,” Makeiev said (see tweet below).
Olena, a worshiper in the Black Sea city of Odessa, made similar comments. “We think we should actually celebrate it with the whole world, far away, far away from Moscow. For me, this is now the new message,” said the mother, whose son is at the front as a medic.
The postponement of Christmas underlines the widening rift between churches in Kiev and Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church belonged to the Moscow Patriarchate as a branch of the Russian Orthodox Church since the 17th century. Parts of it broke with Moscow in early 2019 as a result of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. After the Russian attack in February 2022, the Orthodox Church in Ukraine completely broke away from Moscow.
The old Ukrainian Orthodox Church adheres to the old date
In contrast, the ancient Ukrainian Orthodox Church maintains January 7 as the date for Christmas. She also claims that she has severed ties with Russia over the war of aggression in Ukraine. But many Ukrainians doubt this.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
