JAKARTA - Ukrainian Orthodox Christians are always celebrating Christmas on January 7. However, that possibility will change this year after the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) for the first time allowing its congregation to celebrate Christmas on December 25.
Waves of change, according to Archbishop Yevstratiy Zoria of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, have actually started since 2017, when December 25 became a public holiday in Ukraine. Many church adherents called for getting away from the Julian calendar which became the basis for Christmas calculations by the Russian Orthodox Church.
In fact, calls have become even tougher since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Encourage OCU to allow 7 thousand of its parishes that wish to hold full services on December 25.
"We give people the option to celebrate on different days," said Yevstrify Zoria as quoted by Politico on December 21, 2022.
Before the invasion, more than a third of Ukrainians wanted to switch to the Gregorian calendar. The numbers may be higher now and we are trying to understand what the congregation really wants. We are not moving on Christmas Day, this will be just an additional day of worship," continued Yevstratiy Zoria.
Despite opposition from a number of other Orthodox Churches, especially in Russia, Zoria did not heed it. He considered it a natural thing. They have always treated us as a political group. They did not accept us as a religious organization or as a church. This is very similar to how Russia treats Ukraine in general.
However, for the people of Ukraine today, it's not about the timing of the celebration. The war that has been going on for almost 10 months has made the Ukrainian people suffer. Millions of children will celebrate Christmas this year away from home, far from the warmth of loved ones.
Since the war raged, nearly 8 million Ukrainians have fled to European countries, according to a humanitarian portal, Relief of which is about 40 percent children.
Millions of other Ukrainian people have become internally displaced, looking for cities that are safe from the threat of war. Their condition is currently full of suffering. Having a winter, experiencing power outages, and having to stay alert from missile attacks.
Oksana from Bucha in Kyiv spends 5-6 hours in the basement every day. Get out of the cold air with his family during the height of the conflict, while missiles and bombs sometimes shower them. The war put him and his eldest daughter, Krhystyna (8) underwent stress.
Until he grew gray hair in Krystyna's hair. I didn't tell him, but when I pulled his hair, I cried, because he was still small. It's scary to sit in the basement in a state of war. Congratulations from bullets or buried alive. When that happens, you are no longer worried about yourself, what you think is definitely your children," Oksana said as written on Relief on December 19, 2022.
Oksana and Kryshtyna knew this Christmas would be very different from previous years. It's hard enough to recover from trauma over what happened.
"When Santa Claus arrived, we were already sleeping and the New Year started at 12. We got up in the morning and went to open the prize. Last New Year we woke up at night and still opened the prize," said Kryshtyna.
Masha (9) also felt the same suffering. His family took Masha away from Kyiv last June. Now, he lives in a beach town in England. Separately from his father who prefers to be in Kyiv. This is a very extraordinary sorrow.
"I want my dad to come here, or at least talk by phone," Masha said.
During a peaceful time, his father always supported his pleasure in drawing. "Father even once said, said Masha, 'Everything I describe may come true. So, I draw for us to be together, so that we are on the beach next summer. When I draw it, I feel happy. "
When asked what he wanted for Christmas, Masha said, "I want peace."
Sonia Khush, account director of Save the Children in Ukraine, said children who were victims of the war experienced very severe psychological conditions. Life is separate from their parents, family and friends. Watch directly the military attacks and other violence that occur in the war.
They can be very tough with the right support. Learn to overcome fear and start recovering from the consequences of war, "said Sonia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a speech at the United States Congress on December 21 vowed his country would never give up on Russia. He will continue to try to win world opinion.
Peace talks can be carried out while giving justice to the Ukrainian people.
"That means there is no agreement on my country's sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity," Zelensky said as quoted by Deutsche Welle.
Zelensky thanked the leaders and citizens of America for their support, especially in strengthening Ukrainian military land.
"It is a great honor for me to be at the US Congress and speak to you and all Americans. For all the scenarios of misery and horror, Ukraine did not fall," Zelensky said, greeted by applause from lawmakers.
The Ukrainian people will continue to celebrate Christmas in the midst of war conditions even without electricity, Zelensky said, "Our belief in ourselves will not be extinguished."
Meanwhile, Russia criticized Zelensky's visit to the United States, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it could backfire. "Gun system delivery is not a good sign for Ukraine."
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
