Odesa carolers: “We’re not believers – we’re just raising money for Azov”

New Style Carolers in Odesa. Photo: Channel of Fr. Andriy Palchuk

On December 25 in Odesa, Archdeacon Andriy Palchuk of the Odesa Eparchy of the UOC spoke with local carolers and others simply celebrating Christmas according to the new calendar. He published a video with the results on his YouTube channel. The answers proved unexpected: many of those celebrating turned out to be non-believers or were unable to explain the meaning of Christmas.

The first group of carolers openly admitted that they are not believers. When the deacon asked who Jesus Christ is, the answer was: “Not all of us here are believers, and that doesn’t mean we’re caroling exclusively from a believer’s point of view. We’re collecting for the Third Assault Brigade. Join our fundraiser,” one of the girls said.

Another woman called the deacon’s question about why Christ came into the world “philosophical”: “I, for example, am a non-believer. It can be either a historical figure or a mythical one, but it’s a basis for a holiday, a basis for traditions that unites people. That’s why we keep to it and try to spread culture, traditions.”

A third said she was caroling not to glorify Christ, but for a patriotic purpose: “We’re here not to preach faith, but simply to lift everyone’s spirits, to continue Ukrainian traditions, and to raise money for our army.”

There were also more informed respondents. A group of young men demonstrated a solid understanding of the feast’s meaning: “Why was Jesus born? To save humanity from sins… To deliver God’s word through His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Discussing the Crucifixion, they offered both historical and spiritual reflections: “From a political point of view, the figure of Jesus Christ was so powerful that it could harm the statehood of the Roman Empire. Spiritual leaders did it out of envy. But from a spiritual point of view – it was love.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Kosmach, OCU parishioners quarreled over the date of celebrating Christmas.

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