Zelensky: Today all Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on the same date

Zelensky assured that all Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on 25 December. Photo: a screenshot of Zelensky's YouTube channel

On 24 December 2023, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, standing in front of the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, congratulated Ukrainians on Christmas. The video message is posted on Zelensky's YouTube channel.

"Today all Ukrainians are together, we meet Christmas on the same date as one big family, one nation, one united country," assured Zelensky. He believes, "Today our common prayer, people's prayer, will be more powerful than ever."

"Today it will unite millions of voices, more than ever before," the President is convinced. “And it will sound without a time difference of two weeks, together with Europe and the world."

Zelensky believes that this prayer is "unique" because it will be "for people, for peace, for justice, for life". He particularly stressed that this prayer will be "from different denominations" and, therefore, "will have no boundaries".

The President mentioned that Ukrainians are "going the path to obtain spiritual independence, freedom of our faith from the ideology of slavery, from the cult that has nothing human and sacred."

Zelensky said the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is "a symbol of Ukrainian history, culture, religion, Orthodoxy, all Eastern Christianity".

"The Lavra is a place of strength for people," the President said, highlighting that the monastery will always be "a source of spirit for those who believe in the victory of truth and Ukraine”.

At the end of the address, Zelensky quoted lines from the pre-Christian pagan carol: "Oh, how it was from the beginning of time": "So that the heavens and the earth ripen, the heavens – with stars, the earth – with flowers, oh, God grant."

As reported, Volodymyr Zelensky lit a menorah with Jews at the President's Office.

Read also

Myltsi Monastery shows pictures of shrine's revival from ruins

Archive footage of the St. Nicholas Monastery in Myltsi dated 1994 and modern photos of the revived monastery have been published online.

Embassy of Ukraine holds "prayer for Ukraine" at Weiling Wall in Jerusalem

The Ukrainian Embassy performed a ceremony at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

Founder of children's shelter in Athens asks for help to avoid prison

The Athens Court of Appeals sentenced the head of the Greek foundation to 9.5 years in prison with the right of redemption. 

In Butove, OCU supporters hold meeting on UOC parish "transfer"

In the House of Culture, residents of the village of Butove, Rivne region, decided the fate of St. John's Church of the UOC.

His Beatitude reads first part of Great Penitential Canon at Lavra

Metropolitan Onuphry led the Great Compline at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

Orthodox youth meetings held in deaneries of UOC's Rivne Eparchy

Spiritual and educational events ahead of Great Lent were held in the deaneries of the Rivne Eparchy with the participation of clergy and Orthodox youth.