St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv celebrates Christmas: parishioners tell what they prayed for and how they celebrate the holiday

In 2023, the Orthodox and Greek Catholics of Ukraine celebrate Christmas for the first time according to the New Julian calendar on December 25. On this occasion, the Primate of the Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.

For the second year in a row, our country has been celebrating Christmas in the midst of a full-scale war, so during the liturgy, the clergy read a prayer for the defense of the Fatherland. The Divine Liturgy was broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

According to Metropolitan Epiphanius, the birth of the Son of God is an exceptional historical event of the past that also concerns the present and each of us. The Metropolitan noted that Jesus Christ is the true Son of Man, who mentally lived with people, but was truly born as a human being, took on human nature, and therefore had a genealogy.

Epifaniy noted that the Nativity of Christ calls for a rethinking of life views and reminds people of the original Christian values: faith, love, and truth. He also wished that the spiritual content of the holidays would inspire everyone to continue to work steadfastly to bring victory closer.

OCU believers said they prefer to celebrate Christmas in a family circle. Also on this holiday, people thanked God for finally being able to celebrate Christmas together with the entire civilized world on December 25.

Ukrainians said they pray for victory over the aggressor and for peace. Also, in their prayers, people often mention the defenders who are confronting the enemy in extremely difficult conditions.

Earlier, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine 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.

As a reminder, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulared Ukrainians on Merry Christmas. The Head of State emphasized that for the second year in a row, it is not as important for Ukrainians what dishes are on the table as who is sitting next to them.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, this year the majority of Ukrainians will celebrate Christmas on December 25, not January 7, as evidenced by a number of polls. Thus, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reminded that the transition to this date is the right choice. The video shows that Ukrainian Christmas traditions have a place even on the front line, in the midst of the war with the Russian aggressor, because this is what makes us stronger.

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