Orthodox Christmas

Ukrainian newcomers in Canada will celebrate their first Orthodox Christmas away from home this Saturday. But with the ongoing Russian invasion, ...

to protect our traditions, to protect our own language and our own culture. "But we want to find our own way." "The people wanted their own Christmas." "It's the duty of every Ukrainian … 25] appeared more than 10 years ago, but the war was, like, the capitalization of this," he said. Her husband remains in Ukraine, fighting for their people.

By celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 instead of Jan. 7, some Eastern Orthodox Christians in Ukraine are taking a stand against the Russian invasion.

“The Moscow Patriarch is a product of imperial and Soviet existence,” Zorya said. Zorya, the OCU spokesman, said the Russian Orthodox Church, to which the UOC still bears at least a nominal connection, remains hopelessly imperial in its outlook. “It’s being suggested to change the calendar according to political slogans,” said Serhiy Yushchyk, pro-rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy. And even as it has sought to distance itself from Russia, the UOC has also stuck with Christmas on Jan. “A symbol of the unbreakable spirit of Ukrainian Christianity.” [Kyiv said its forces wouldn’t ](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ukraine-rejects-putin-russia-orthodox-christmas-cease-fire-rcna64569)observe the cease-fire and has long viewed suggestions of a truce as efforts to buy Moscow time. While Zorya’s breakaway Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was formally recognized as independent in 2019 after years of tension with Russia, gave its parishioners the option to celebrate Christmas on Dec. The Ukrainian government rebuilt a replica in 2000, as “a symbol of the spiritual restoration of Ukraine,” he said. “I think for many people it will be a chance to demonstrate their will to be a part of European civilization. Kuvtun is among the Ukrainian Christians who turned Christmas into a fresh front in the war with Russia. “The civilized world celebrates on the 25th of December. 7 — the date Christmas is observed by Russians and other Eastern Orthodox Christians — Kuvtun is making a small stand against a larger Russian cultural hegemony that many

This year will be a very different Orthodox Christmas for Andrian Makhnachov. The Ukrainian young adult moved to Regina in the summer after he was for...

While Makhanachov will be celebrating Orthodox Christmas in Canada, his father is back in Ukraine. When I talk with some Canadians, they say, ‘I’m half Ukrainian’ or ‘My father is half Ukrainian.’ “This year was an interesting feeling.” But Makhanachov said his father is still going to celebrate Christmas in some capacity and shared he is doing well. While he admitted it was nice to experience his first Canadian Christmas — calling it a “fun Christmas” — he said it still feels different compared to the last one he was able to experience in Ukraine a year ago. “I celebrated Canadian Christmas and bought some Ukrainian products and made a little Ukrainian dinner for Christmas,” he explained.

Kelowna Stands with Ukraine is hosting an Ukrainian Christmas celebration for about 130 displaced Ukrainians who have moved to the Central Okanagan since war ...

It is observed by more than 250 million people worldwide in several countries including some in Eastern Europe, as well as Greece, Ethiopia and Egypt. “There will be some entertainment, some games for kids. She has been fundraising for weeks to raise enough money to put on the Christmas celebration, and Trinity Church has stepped up to cover about half the expenses.

As Ukrainian refugees celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7 January, the new year brings more uncertainty.

[ While many hope to find work and improve their living conditions, others, such as Valentina, will continue to need protection and humanitarian aid. “The response by the Polish authorities at all levels, as well as civil society, has been remarkable,” says Kevin Allen, UNHCR Representative in Poland. If not for the shelter and the help available there, life for the whole family would be unbearable. “A few days after we left, a rocket fell at the Kramatorsk train station, killing 60 people,” said Valentina. “We can afford food and clothes, so we don’t even use humanitarian aid, because we believe that it will be more useful to others,” says Kateryna. Since Mykhailo found a job in construction, the family has other priorities. The majority are from heavily war-affected areas in the south and east of Ukraine. We took only one suitcase with us.” It was early March in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. The building they live in used to be an office but has been turned into a shelter for refugees by the Municipal Social Welfare Centre in Krakow. Valentin, 11, is lying on another cot reading a book and Arina, 7, is playing with other children in the hallway.

Ukrainian newcomers in Canada will celebrate their first Orthodox Christmas away from home this Saturday. But with the ongoing Russian invasion, ...

to protect our traditions, to protect our own language and our own culture. "But we want to find our own way." "The people wanted their own Christmas." "It's the duty of every Ukrainian … 25] appeared more than 10 years ago, but the war was, like, the capitalization of this," he said. Her husband remains in Ukraine, fighting for their people.

Alex and Anna Gadaiev arrived in Canada on the last plane to leave Ukraine for Canada almost eleven months ago. Their family has started a new life in ...

This special, unplanned Christmas on a new Canadian land vas first for a lot of newcomers in our area. In the traditional Vertep, shepherds meet angels worshiping the birth of a new King to the world. This year, the newborn baby Jesus in our nativity scene brought peace and freedom to Ukraine. No matter where we were - overseas, or under shelling in Ukraine - all Ukrainians felt one common pain, and all of them had one wish on New Year’s Eve - to see a free Ukraine without a war. And by the way, Ukraine is slowly transitioning to celebrating with the whole world, and this year many Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on December 25th, and this day itself has been a civic holiday for the last couple of years. On December 25th, the Ukrainian Catholic parish in Morden hosted its first parish Christmas Vertep. It is a Christian holiday commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. The Gadaiev children were part of the Christmas program, and Alex shared what it was like to experience this sacred time in Canada. There is also a custom of sending kids with kutia to relatives, usually grandparents and godparents. Dinner begins with a prayer by the head of the family. Alex and Anna Gadaiev arrived in Canada on the last plane to leave Ukraine for Canada almost eleven months ago. It was my first turkey in my life, with potatoes and salad.

So, to help in the celebration, we were blessed Friday morning with a visit from some Ukrainian Christmas carolers who filled our studio with sounds of the ...

A family of Ukrainian refugees who fled to the UK when war broke out have returned to Kyiv determined to celebrate a traditional Christmas despite Russian ...

And now I’m trying to teach my children to keep this tradition.” go from house to house, knock the door and ask if they can sing a song about Jesus being born… Children were sleeping in a bathroom, this is the safest place in a house… The former events business owner, 37, travelled to Ukraine with her son and daughter, Luca and Kvitoslava, who “miss their father very much”. This year, such activities will be curtailed by the war. “When I asked them, ‘Where do you want to celebrate New Year and Christmas?

Vladimir Putin has ordered his defence minister to impose a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the Russian Orthodox Christmas, which Ukraine has ...

- Serbia - Bulgaria - Egypt - Israel But his measurements were wrong by about 11 minutes, and over the centuries the dates of major Christian holidays had drifted so much it became an issue. [Ukraine rejected his request to reciprocate](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/ukraine-official-rejects-vladimir-putins-call-for-36-hour-frontline-ceasefire-during-christmas-2067380?ico=in-line_link), with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, calling it an attempt to stop [Ukraine’s military advances](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/russian-troops-revealed-location-missile-attack-phoning-home-2064569?ico=in-line_link) in the east.

Ukraine rejected the cease-fire ordered unilaterally by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which began Friday to coincide with the start of Orthodox ...

“The hand of Christian mercy was extended to the Ukrainians,” he said in a Telegram post. and Germany were planning to send new armored vehicles. “We believe this is a cynical ploy, so that the Russians can use a bit of time ... Ukrainian officials also reported Russian attacks earlier Friday. The church, which uses the ancient Julian calendar, celebrates Christmas on Jan. About an hour after the Russian cease-fire began, air raid sirens sounded in the capital, Kyiv, though no explosions were heard. Some Orthodox Christians in Ukraine recently started celebrating Christmas on Dec. “Based on the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the areas of hostilities, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a cease-fire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ,” Putin said. “Putin cannot reasonably expect Ukraine to meet the terms of this suddenly declared cease-fire and may have called for the cease-fire to frame Ukraine as unaccommodating and unwilling to take the necessary steps toward negotiations,” “Now they want to use Christmas as a cover to stop the advance of our guys in the Donbas for a while and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized people closer to our positions,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Thursday. ET). [cease-fire ordered unilaterally by Russian President Vladimir Putin](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/putin-russia-ukraine-cease-fire-orthodox-christmas-rcna64421) to coincide with the start of [Orthodox Christmas](http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/christmas-ukraine-orthodox-russia-invasion-war-church-kirill-putin-rcna63439) began Friday, but was rejected by [Ukraine](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/russia-ukraine-news) and its allies as a cynical move designed to buy time on the battlefield and favor in the eyes of the public.

Kyiv officials dismissed the move as a ploy but didn't clarify whether Ukrainian troops would follow suit on the 36-hour cease-fire which began at noon ...

“The hand of Christian mercy was extended to the Ukrainians,” he said in a Telegram post. “Such a pause would disproportionately benefit Russian troops and begin to deprive Ukraine of the initiative,” the think tank said late Thursday. Speaking on Friday to thousands of faithful gathered in St. May the birth of the Savior infuse comfort, infuse hope and inspire concrete steps that can finally bring an end to the fighting and inspire peace.” The Russian military alleged that Ukrainian forces continued to shell its positions despite the truce that Kyiv never agreed to. “But everything is possible.” On Friday, the U.S. Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv about 40 minutes after the Russian cease-fire was to come into effect, but no explosions were heard. It came after the Russian Orthodox Church head, Patriarch Kirill, proposed a cease-fire for this weekend’s Orthodox Christmas holiday. The Orthodox Church, which uses the Julian calendar, celebrates Christmas on Jan. Washington says it is prepared to keep backing Ukraine’s war effort. The Russian-declared truce in the nearly 11-month war began at noon Friday and was to continue through midnight Saturday Moscow time (0900 GMT Friday to 2100 GMT Saturday; 4 a.m.

"Christmas is about family, it's about sharing... many families have lost their loved ones, have lost their homes." Brandon volunteer Julia Krykavska talks ...

Orthodox Christmas arrives this Saturday and a university student in Saskatoon is excited to celebrate. Marta Krueger is a fifth-year student and co-p...

In the past, Krueger said they’ve visited seniors’ homes and a church. In their first event since the COVID-19 pandemic, she said their group will visit one seniors’ home and a few other homes throughout the evening. Because of the tradition that carols only be sung after the holidays begin, Krueger said she’s planning a caroling event where Ukrainian students at the U of S will gather to sing for others. Gifts aren’t a big part of Orthodox Christmas, Krueger explained, as the focus is always on spending time together with family. 7, ham and other meats will be found on many Orthodox tables. Once Christmas Day arrives on Jan.

World Junior Hockey Championships recap, celebrating Orthodox Christmas and Meteorologist Peter Quinlan's winter outlook. Here's your morning rewind for the ...

It’s been a colder and snowier start to winter, with the temperature in December 5.6 degrees colder than normal. He joins Chris Carr to look back on the tournament, the energy in the building for the final, and a performance for the ages by Connor Bedard. Here’s your morning rewind for the Friday, Jan.

PEACE campaigners have called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to make a truce he has ordered in the Ukraine conflict into a permanent ceasefire.

With a regular donation to our monthly Fighting Fund, we can continue to thumb our noses at the fat cats and tell truth to power. The Morning Star is unique, as a lone socialist voice in a sea of corporate media. All the resources put into war could be used in so many ways to bring life.”

Christmas, celebrated Jan. 7 according to the Julian calendar used by the Eastern Orthodox Church, brings a mix of joy and sadness once again for Ukrainians ...

and sharing this joy of Christmas will not be the same this year because many families have lost their loved ones, have lost their homes … “But it’s very bitter in the sense that the war continues to rage. It’s an important time of year for many Ukrainians, but Christmas — traditionally celebrated Jan.

Prior to Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine, Kyiv had been pushing to establish its own independent Orthodox Church separate from Moscow, and the schism only ...

He was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches on the 25th and New Year’s.” The president’s order came after Kirill called for a ceasefire between January 6 and January 7 to observe Orthodox Christmas. The adviser later described Putin’s order as “purely propaganda,” adding: “There is not the slightest desire to end the war. [announcing in a sermon](https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-09-27-22/h_2ab378fc95a147a373a12e1343741566) in September 2022 that Russian soldiers who die in the war against Ukraine will be cleansed of all their sins. US President Joe Biden expressed skepticism on Thursday, telling reporters that he was “reluctant to respond to anything Putin says. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has become closely entwined with the Russian state under Putin, responded by cutting ties with Bartholomew. Even before the decision on May 27, 2022, more than 400 parishes had already left the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate in the aftermath of the invasion. Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 decided to standardize Christian holidays with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, which put the birth of Jesus Christ as December 25. “He is sacrificing himself for others,” he said. Majority-Orthodox countries include Russia, Ukraine and Greece, whose churches are part of the Eastern Orthodox branch, which is also followed by the majority of Christians in the Middle East. In October, a branch of Ukraine’s Orthodox church announced it would This severed the church’s centuries-long ties with the Russian church.

But Orthodox Christians — excluding the Greek Orthodox Church, which adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1923, and parts of the Ukrainian faithful — still use the ...

In recent years it has become increasingly popular with children to organise “Vertep” performances and raise small amounts of cash. Christmas Day on 7 January starts with a visit to church. As a result, Orthodox Christmas will eventually fall on 8 January by the year 2100. The 6 January celebrations are not to be confused with the day of the Epiphany, which is celebrated by Christians following the Gregorian calendar to mark the revelation of God in human form as Jesus. But Orthodox Christians — excluding the Greek Orthodox Church, which adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1923, and parts of the Ukrainian faithful — still use the Julian calendar today. The reason for the difference in festivities is due to the separate calendars that Catholic and Orthodox Christians use to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

Orthodox Christians packed churches on Friday evening for Christmas Eve services, a holiday darkened for many by the conflict raging between Orthodox ...

Instead of preparing large meals for family gatherings this Orthodox Christmas, many Ukrainians who fled the war are looking for housing and jobs in ...

25, as in the West. So far, 900 people have graduated from the survival English classes,” said Gorbach. “There’s a lot of optimism compared to the start of the war.” The main Orthodox Church in Ukraine has rejected the authority of Moscow, and many Ukrainian believers have shifted their calendar to celebrate Christmas on Dec. [Russian](https://globalnews.ca/tag/russia/) and Ukrainian forces continued to exchange artillery fire on the front lines. “The prognosis at the beginning of the war is that Ukraine would be destroyed within three days,” said Marples. “Obviously Ukraine is not going to reciprocate — they see it as a propaganda move, but it will fizzle out,” said David Marples a historian and professor at University of Alberta, on Thursday. “In the absence of income support for Ukrainian evacuees it’s a recipe for homelessness, hunger and human trafficking, so we try to bridge that gap to learn English to get employed. “They were trying to escape and the Russians attacked their car, her husband and eight-year-old daughter were shot.” [Orthodox Christians ](https://globalnews.ca/tag/orthodox-christmas/)around the world prepare to mark [Christmas](https://globalnews.ca/tag/christmas) this weekend, it’s a somber occasion for so many [Ukrainians](https://globalnews.ca/tag/ukrainians) forced from their homes and country. [Ukraine](https://globalnews.ca/tag/ukraine) was pummeled by the Russian military during a month-long assault of bombing raids and missile fire. “It’s not the same as last year, that’s for sure,” said Nataliia Demiamenko, who moved to Calgary just over a month ago with her mom, mother-law, daughter and other family members.

Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the world's largest Orthodox denomination, led elaborate services at Moscow's Christ the Savior ...

El-Sissi has attended several Christmas Eve services held by the country’s Coptic Orthodox minority, in a public act of interfaith solidarity. But this year, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is not aligned with the Russian church and one of two branches of Orthodoxy in the country, agreed to allow faithful to celebrate on Dec. In Cairo’s northern suburb of Shobra and other Christian hubs, golden fairy lights and Christmas-themed decorations adorned the streets. Dozens of boys and girls marched through Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank for the annual scouts parade, playing Palestinian anthems and religious hymns on bagpipes and huge drums. Christians once constituted a sizeable minority in Iraq, estimated at around 1.4 million. This economic crisis will affect many countries if the war continues this year or longer,’’ el-Sissi said. The Egyptian pound has shriveled in value against the dollar, hitting to a new low earlier this week as the country faces a shortage of foreign currency spurred by Russia sending troops into Ukraine. “It is with sadness that we watch the war conflicts and victims, in which, publicly or secretly, various participants are taking part,” Porfirije said. Our ancestors did not go hunting in these days, but we fight so that we do not become prey and to defeat the beast,” he said. The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, joined the faithful as they flocked the Church of the Nativity, revered by Christians as the traditional site of Jesus’s birthplace. Reports of scattered fighting in Ukraine on Friday could not immediately be confirmed. GST will be added to each payment.

01.06.2023 Przemysl, Poland. Two Orthodox priests say grace with a group of around 100 Ukrainian refugees before a traditional Orthodox Christmas Eve dinner ...

The centre decided to go ahead with the Christmas Eve event out of respect for tradition and to provide a social gathering for the dozens of refugees who recently arrived at the shelter. Neither date mattered much to Svitlana Goroliyeva on Friday as she joined the Christmas Eve festivities at Ukrainian House. Just like not speaking Russian or listening to Russian singers, “it’s important for us to understand and that you should stand away from everything that happened in the past and how the propaganda worked on us for the whole time,” she said. Tatiana Nakonieczna, a volunteer at Ukrainian House, said the organization debated whether to hold the Christmas Eve dinner on Friday. The conflicting Christmas dates were on full display across Poland on Friday. “We are actually quite confused,” she said Friday morning as she helped organize the dinner. She can stay at the shelter for only a couple of days and she has no plans beyond going to Germany to find work. Avramova belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church and she has always celebrated Christmas on Jan. The ceasefire announcement came at the behest of Patriarch Kirill I, who heads the Russian church and is a close ally of Mr. Instead, she spent the evening in Ukrainian House, a cultural centre and refugee shelter in Przemysl, just across the Ukrainian border in Poland. She appreciated the gesture, but cried softly as she looked at one of the Christmas trees. Koval, 26, had just arrived in Poland from Ukraine and she planned to go to Barcelona.

Ukraine rejected the temporary truce and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war by withdrawing his invading forces from occupied ...

Read the [latest updates here](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/06/russia-ukraine-war-latest-updates-putin-ceasefire/?itid=lb_war-in-ukraine-what-you-need-to-know_2). In Berlin, the Russian Embassy condemned a decision by Germany to send Marder infantry fighting vehicles long coveted by Kyiv. North of Ukraine, in Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko was seen Friday touring tent camps that house the Russian military. [Russia-Ukraine war](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraine-russia/?itid=lb_war-in-ukraine-what-you-need-to-know_7). [Subscribe to our channel](https://t.me/washingtonpost?itid=lb_war-in-ukraine-what-you-need-to-know_8) for updates and exclusive video. “What does a bunch of little Kremlin devils have to do with the Christian holiday of Christmas?” tweeted Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s national security council. We will bite you in the singing silence of the Ukrainian night.” Putin this week ordered his forces to observe a 36-hour truce for the holiday, the Kremlin said. Telegram channels affiliated with Russia’s Wagner mercenaries, who have been leading the offensive in the area, posted videos Friday evening purporting to show the group’s fighters entering Soledar. RIGA, Latvia — Russia complained Friday that Ukraine refused to adhere to an Orthodox Christmas cease-fire — though Kyiv never agreed to the unilateral 36-hour truce and dismissed it as a ploy for Moscow to regroup. Continual military aid from Ukraine’s allies poses a problem for Putin. Putin reiterated that position in a phone call Thursday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The festival is marked by traditional feasts, fasting and church ceremonies. The holiday has its roots in the centuries-old decision made by Orthodox churches ...

Some people will come and they have tears in their eyes because they remember their grandmother or somebody doing this for them,” Joan said. And just to remember that patience is very important when we’re dealing with world situations that seem to be under control or out of control.“ She also makes a lot of perogies, garlicky buns, creamy cucumber salads, cheesecake tarts, squares and meatballs in mushroom dill creamed sauce. “The 40 days prior to Christmas is a fasting time. This evening on the 6th of January, we all gather for our meal. The festival is marked by traditional feasts, fasting and church ceremonies.

This year will be a very different Orthodox Christmas for Andrian Makhnachov. The Ukrainian young adult moved ...

While Makhanachov will be celebrating Orthodox Christmas in Canada, his father is back in Ukraine. When I talk with some Canadians, they say, ‘I’m half Ukrainian’ or ‘My father is half Ukrainian.’ “This year was an interesting feeling.” But Makhanachov said his father is still going to celebrate Christmas in some capacity and shared he is doing well. While he admitted it was nice to experience his first Canadian Christmas — calling it a “fun Christmas” — he said it still feels different compared to the last one he was able to experience in Ukraine a year ago. “I celebrated Canadian Christmas and bought some Ukrainian products and made a little Ukrainian dinner for Christmas,” he explained.

Orthodox Christians packed churches on Friday evening for Christmas Eve services, a holiday darkened for many by the conflict raging between Orthodox ...

El-Sissi has attended several Christmas Eve services held by the country's Coptic Orthodox minority, in a public act of interfaith solidarity. But this year, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is not aligned with the Russian church and one of two branches of Orthodoxy in the country, agreed to allow faithful to celebrate on Dec. In Cairo's northern suburb of Shobra and other Christian hubs, golden fairy lights and Christmas-themed decorations adorned the streets. Dozens of boys and girls marched through Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank for the annual scouts parade, playing Palestinian anthems and religious hymns on bagpipes and huge drums. “It is with sadness that we watch the war conflicts and victims, in which, publicly or secretly, various participants are taking part,” Porfirije said. Our ancestors did not go hunting in these days, but we fight so that we do not become prey and to defeat the beast,” he said.

Orthodox Christians packed churches on Friday evening for Christmas Eve services, a holiday darkened for many by the conflict raging between Orthodox ...

El-Sissi has attended several Christmas Eve services held by the country’s Coptic Orthodox minority, in a public act of interfaith solidarity. But this year, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is not aligned with the Russian church and one of two branches of Orthodoxy in the country, agreed to allow faithful to celebrate on Dec. In Cairo’s northern suburb of Shobra and other Christian hubs, golden fairy lights and Christmas-themed decorations adorned the streets. Dozens of boys and girls marched through Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank for the annual scouts parade, playing Palestinian anthems and religious hymns on bagpipes and huge drums. “It is with sadness that we watch the war conflicts and victims, in which, publicly or secretly, various participants are taking part,” Porfirije said. Our ancestors did not go hunting in these days, but we fight so that we do not become prey and to defeat the beast,” he said.