The Ukrainian couple formed by Lesia Shestakova, Catholic, and Oleksandr Shestakov, Orthodox, will celebrate the first time Christmas together on December 25.
Ukraine, like Russia, officially celebrated Orthodox Christmas on January 7, according to the Julian calendar, until kyiv passed a law this year moving the date to December 25, in line with other Western European countries.
It is part of a cultural shift that is erasing traces of Russian influence as Ukraine defends itself from Moscow’s invasion launched almost two years ago.
Lesia, Oleksandr and two of their children used to celebrate Christmas twice: first with Lesia’s parents in December, and then with Oleksandr’s parents in January.
“There is finally a day in Ukraine that my husband and I can spend together in the cathedral and thank God for being together, alive and in good health,” Lesia told Reuters on Sunday as the two attended morning services at kyiv’s St. Alexander’s Catholic Cathedral.
Lesia and Oleksandr agreed that distancing the country from Russian religious and cultural traditions will help further strengthen Ukraine.
“Everything related to Soviet Union – the hammer and sickle, the stars, the idols and the monuments to people like Lenin – is being destroyed. And now, on December 25, the country’s rebirth will begin, with new festivities.”commented Oleksandr.
Moscow’s attack in February 2022 led many Ukrainians to reject Russian language, culture and other historical ties to the former ruler of kyiv.
Source: Gestion
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