He upset his traditions, to get away from the Moscow yoke. Many Ukrainians are preparing to spend the first holiday season in a country at war, eight months after the start of the “special operation” launched by the Kremlin.
Traditionally, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7. But this year, some have chosen to celebrate it on December 24 and 25, at the same time as most Christians, to free themselves from the dictates of the Russian Church and its Julian calendar. The decision was made in October by the leaders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, according to the Associated Press agency, which is not aligned with Moscow.
Within this very religious Ukrainian population, many did not hesitate to make this change.
Get closer to the rest of Europe
“On February 24, when I was still pregnant, the war started. I decided that I no longer wanted to follow any tradition linked to Russia and the Russian-influenced Church, ”she relates to the BFMTV Yulia microphone. The young mother has chosen, along with her family, to celebrate Christmas on December 25.
A sign of protest followed by the priests, who exposed the idea to their parishioners. “We held a vote in our parish and unanimously decided to celebrate Christmas on the 25th. Kyiv Orthodox Church.
A desire also to get closer to the rest of the Christians, and to Europe. “It brings us closer to a large part of the world”, emphasizes a faithful. For another, “it should have been done a long time ago.” But breaking with Russia is not “so easy, with its propaganda.”
Source: BFM TV
