Serbian media: Ukrainian authorities fail to "cancel" Christmas on January 7

Metropolitan Onuphry at the Christmas service in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: UOC

One of the largest Serbian media outlets noted the massive participation of UOC believers in Christmas liturgies. The publication "Politika Online" highlights that Ukrainian churches were filled with parishioners on the night of January 7, despite attempts by authorities to limit the use of the traditional Julian calendar.

The journalists base their conclusions on posts on social networks. They write that eyewitnesses shared footage from churches across the country, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, where the service was led by the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Onuphry.

According to the publication, Christmas greetings and church hymns became the most popular search queries among Ukrainians during these festive days.

According to "Politika", comments appeared on social networks with threats to report believers to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), but this did not stop thousands of people from participating in the services.

The publication emphasizes that the authorities' attempts to replace Christmas with the symbolic Programmer's Day did not change the deep-rooted traditions. Ukrainian refugees abroad also shared greetings online and recalled family customs that do not depend on official decisions.

As reported by the UOJ, a state channel host warned to block everyone greeting on Christmas on January 7.

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