Ukrainian customs seize Patriarch Kirill’s Nativity epistle
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russian
"Sources in Ukraine have said that the local customs authorities seized copies of Patriarch Kirill's Christmas greeting earlier sent from Russia to be read out as per tradition during the holiday service on January 7," Vladimir Legoyda, the head of the Synodal Department for Church, Society and Media Relations, said on Telegram.
According to established tradition, the message is to be read at the festive Divine services on January 7 for the feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, but the employees of the state border service confiscated the copies of the message, citing non-compliance with certain formalities.
As Legoyda notes, the message can still be read in churches: “The times are not the same: It can be read with a smartphone. Let the attentive staff of the Ukrainian customs prepare for a new star on their epaulettes, since that’s more important to them than the star of Bethlehem.”
On December 24, 2018, Vladimir Legoyda said that the Russian Orthodox Church was ready for dialogue with the Phanar but would not give up the Truth.
Read also
Lavra Reserve and OCU sign memorandum on preservation of caves and relics
The memorandum was signed by Reserve Director Kotliarevska and “Bishop” A. Lotysh.
Estonia’s Supreme Court to review president’s complaint over law on churches
The Constitutional Court of Estonia will consider President Karis’s petition regarding the compliance of the law on churches with the national Constitution.
Azov holds “sacral mystery” for the Day of the Dead
A pagan rite dedicated to the Day of the Dead was carried out by the Azov Brigade.
Patriarch Theophilos invites Palestine president to Christmas in Bethlehem
The Jerusalem Patriarchate has invited representatives of the Palestinian authorities to the Christmas service at the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Shevchuk predicts “hard decades” for Ukraine due to demographic catastrophe
The birth rate has fallen to 0.6 children per family. The head of the UGCC called for helping the Ukrainian family, but without coercion “as in totalitarian regimes.”
UGCC head: Today Christ becomes a Ukrainian warrior
Shevchuk, in his reflections on the Nativity of Christ, pointed out that the Savior has become a Ukrainian warrior today.