Should we celebrate in time of war: OCU gives Ukrainians an honest answer

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has stated that it is possible and necessary to celebrate Christmas during the war. At the same time, they clarified that the essence of the holiday should not turn into mass entertainment and improved nutrition.

First and foremost, it should be an attraction to the truths and traditions associated with eternity. Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the OCU Yevstratiy Zorya said this on Facebook.

According to him, in the Soviet period, the main way of "celebrating" was considered to be public mass entertainment and improving the diet. However, in modern times, this utilitarian understanding of "celebration" has been supplemented by modern trends in the commercialization of any event.

"However, the Ukrainian word 'holiday' (as well as its English equivalent, 'holy day') primarily reminds us of holiness. Holiness is not about entertainment, feasting, or sales. The essence of the term "holiness" is separation. It is the removal of something from ordinary use," said Yevstratiy Zorya.

He also explained that the holiness of God is manifested in His separation from the world. Therefore, on a holiday, one should dedicate one's words, thoughts, and deeds to something that transcends people and the present.

"God is holy because He is separated from the world, does not merge with it, does not dissolve. And holy days are the days when we put aside the ordinary for the sake of the special. In order to honor events and individuals whose significance is not mundane but eternal. We set aside special days in order to connect them with the meaning and deep significance of history as a way of interaction between God and people. On a holy day, we dedicate our words, thoughts, and deeds to something that transcends ourselves and the present," explained Yevstratiy Zorya.

Therefore, he called for limiting ourselves to utilitarian, consumer, and entertainment activities when it comes to "celebration." At the same time, it is necessary to join the truths and traditions associated with eternity.

As a reminder, this year the majority of Ukrainians will celebrate Christmas on December 25, not January 7, as evidenced by a number of polls. The Armed Forces of Ukraine reminded that the transition to this date is the right choice.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA told about Christmas traditions of different regions of Ukraine. Read our article about what kind of kutia is cooked in different regions, which Ukrainians bake a festive loaf, and where spiders are necessarily woven from straw.

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