“Far from Moscow”, Ukrainians are preparing to celebrate Christmas for the first time on December 25

Ukrainians are preparing for Christmas celebrations on Sunday, December 24, in synchrony with the Western world, for the first time in their history. Orthodox believers will celebrate Christmas with Catholics, but also with Greek, Romanian and Bulgarian Orthodox on December 25, and not January 7 of the civil calendar, as was traditional until then and as is done in Russia.

In July, Volodymyr Zelensky formalized the move of Christmas celebrations from January 7 to December 25. This decision is part of a series of measures taken by Ukraine to distance itself from Moscow, in the midst of a Russian invasion which has lasted for almost two years. This law passed by Parliament illustrates the gap that has widened between the Orthodox churches of kyiv and Moscow for several years, further reinforced by the war.

“We pray for an end to the war. We pray for victory,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky in an exceptional address shot from the kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a majestic Orthodox monastery founded in the 11th century. “For peace, for justice”he continued in front of this religious landmark which housed until the end of 2022 the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church dependent on Moscow.

“We really want to celebrate this holiday in a new way. It is a holiday with all of Ukraine, with our independent Ukraine,” Olena, a resident of Odessa, told AFP. “We really need to celebrate Christmas with the whole world, far, far away from Moscow”she continued.