President Vladimir Putin attended a Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin alone, without his family and other faithful with whom he usually surrounds himself, independent Russian media reported. Their Telegram channels reported that “the nightly mass with the Russian leader has been significantly shortened.”
The recording of the Annunciation Cathedral was shown by the state television Rossiya-1. Vladimir Putin participated in the Christmas night service (from Friday to Saturday) only in the company of a few priests. Describing this event, the Reuters agency emphasized that the president did not make a different choice, and could show up, for example, during a normal service, among the people.
Orthodox believers, including v Russia and in Ukraine, celebrate Christmas on January 7-8, according to the Julian calendar.
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Putin during a Christmas service at the Annunciation CathedralMIKHAEL KLIMENTYEV/PAP/EPA
Putin during a Christmas service at the Annunciation CathedralSPUTNIK POOL/PAP/EPA
“Perhaps this is a harbinger of an impending complete power shift?” – asks the Russian independent portal bloknot.ru. He recalls that earlier the Russian president called Christmas “one of the most beloved holidays of Christians, uniting people around high spiritual ideals and supporting family traditions.”
Putin during a Christmas service at the Annunciation CathedralSUTNIK POOL POOL
In the mansion and on the island
Russian media reminded that during his long-term rule, Putin celebrated Christmas in Moscow only for the third time. Last year, due to the pandemic COVID-19also participated alone in the Christmas liturgy held in the church at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryiv in the Moscow region.
In 2021, Putin took part in Christmas celebrations on the island of Lipno in the Novgorod region, surrounded by crowds of believers, the Russian section of Radio Svoboda recalled.
Reuters, Radio Svoboda, bloknot.ru
Main photo source: MIKHAEL KLIMENTYEV/PAP/EPA