Ukraine. President: Christmas puts us in a good mood, especially when we shoot down Russian planes

“Christmas evening during the war. Our soldiers shot down not only almost 30 shaheds and several missiles, but also two more Russian ‘Su’. In just a week, the terrorists lost five planes,” wrote the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

“This Christmas creates the right mood for the whole next year,” he said, adding that “every Russian pilot should decide for himself whether he wants to participate in this war.”

“Thank you to all our soldiers (…) Thank you to everyone who, both on Christmas Day and on weekdays, takes care of the defense of our country, who stops enemy attacks and shows steadfastness wherever they are (…), who fights (…) .) or saves and heals people,” added the Ukrainian president and extended Christmas wishes to his fellow citizens.

Official Christmas celebrations on Ukraine according to the Gregorian calendar, i.e. December 25, was approved by the Ukrainian Parliament in July. The modifications were introduced in connection with the announcement by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UKGK) of changes in the celebration of liturgical holidays.

On February 6, 2023, the head of this Church, the Major Archbishop of Kiev-Halit, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, announced the departure from the previously used Julian calendar and the transition from September 1 to a new style of celebrating permanent holidays.

The decision to change the calendar was accelerated by Russian aggression against Ukraine, explained Father Ihor Jaciw, director of the UKGK communications department, in July.

Archbishop Szewczuk noted that the faithful who are not ready for such changes will have the option of using the Julian calendar until 2025. He also assured that the change in the liturgical calendar is the result of consultations with clergy and parishioners.

So far, Christmas was celebrated on January 7. In the case of movable holidays, such as Easter, the current rules will be maintained.

Many Ukrainians consider the UKGK to be the national church. In Ukraine, this Church has over 5 million followers. Earlier, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which obtained autocephaly at the beginning of 2019, also announced that its parishes can switch to the liturgical calendar according to the new style.