Posted on 01/07/2006 3:38:26 PM PST by jb6
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged young Russians to observe the traditional moral values of Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated in Russia on January 7, according to the old calendar. ''The positive influence of Christmas celebrations on the creative and public activities of Russian citizens is growing from year to year. It is important that the younger generation accepts the traditional moral values,'' Mr Putin said in a message greeting the Orthodox Christians and Russians on the occasion of Orthodox Christmas.
He attended a Christmas service in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Yakutsk (Sabha republic), in Siberia yesterday, where he was on a official visit.
''I cordially congratulate you on Christmas. This cheerful holiday brings joy and hope to millions of Christians and revives the good tradition of taking care of one’s near and giving support to people in need,'' Itar-Tass quoted him as saying.
Mr Putin also sent Christmas greetings to Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Aleksy II.
''On these festive days full of joy and good hopes, I would like to gratefully confirm your contribution to the promotion of peace, concord and mutual understanding between people, and the development of fruitful dialogue between the Church and the government on topical modern problems,'' he said in his message to the Russian Patriarch.
The Patriarch led the Christmas service last night at Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral which was attended by about 5,000 people. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov was among the several top officials who attended the service.
''This is our common salvific holiday for God came to Earth for our salvation,'' the Patriarch said in his message to the Russians.
''The holiday fills our hearts with spiritual joy because God is with us. And if we are with God, God will be with us too, and we will fear no difficulties, ailments or trials,'' he noted.
"Truth is, that a Georgian dictator of the Soviet Union signed a treaty with Hitler."
Yeah - and he was born in Atlanta!!
BWAHAHHAHA
"As for Russians, least you forget that 30 million Russians were victims of the Soviets."
Reference please. I dont believe you (again)
"Problem is that Stalin is 6 ft under for 50 years now and Baltic Nazis are minister in "democratic" EU goverments!"
Yes and another KGB thug has taken over Russia.
"Your words are lies and are treated as such."
jb6,
All your spin will not ameliorate the fact that the Kremlin and RUSSIA are responsible for the deaths of 100 million in the last century - exported at the end of an AK47
EVIL EMPIRE - and its back.
Let your racism flow free, it's what you're all about.
"You are sick or have bad stomack? "
"Ukraine have population of some, 20 milion?
russia some 120 million "
Yes - and Ukraine would have 80 million today were it not for genocidal Russia including the csar and the communists.
BWAHAHHAHA you're ignorant, actually he was born in Gori, the Republic of Georgia, where his museum and statues still stand as a national hero.
"Its a sad day when conservatives come out against celebrating Christmas."
How dare you wrap yourself in the Moscow Church that committed the blasphemy of licking up to Putins Commandments and campaigning against the devout Ukrainian Orthodox Yushchenko and supported the convicted felon atheist Yanukovich.
"when the perpeturators are Georgian, Polish (Dzierzynski), Ukrainian, Jewish, Latvian - you blame Russians? "
Where were all the Russians from 1921 to 1991? Coffee Break?
"Ukranian losses in army are lesser then russians."
This is a lie that is being revealed to the world for the first time in 60 years and there is nothing that you can do about it.
It must be very sad for a communist to see one of the biggest propaganda myths fall apart after so many years
" I don't think I'll ever fully grasp the complexity of the religious issues there."
The Moscow church sufferes from a delusion that it is the successor to the Roman Empire.
"Overall, Russians do have more religious freedoms than Americans"
Gary, your ability to type with a straight face is astounding.
"Bull, you've accused me of being well over a dozen different Freepers."
jb6,
Accuse?
You ARE a dozen different Freepers
"KGB was regarded in late Soviet days as the least corrupt of all Soviet institutions. "
Thats a curious characterization of the greatest Terror and Killing Machine to have ever existed.
Is this the same KGB that took over the "Holly Russian Orthodox Church"?
"You can find instances of this throughout the US,"
Typical straw man marxist BS. Obviously the product of a soviet institution.
"For that matter, everyone in the SU knew the ship was rotten and sinking and the bureaucrats were the first to joke about it.
The communist system had to go"
The problem is that all the communists stayed - including KGB Putie.
"Parliment was once home to one of the biggest slave trading networks and opium pushers in the world, should the British still be damned for that?"
Yes and they were.
Now its Russia turn to face its past - which it refuses to do as so aptly demonstrated by the Russophiles on this page.
Care to name which dozen?
Yes and they were
Well, I guess we're perpetually damned for Slavery and the Indians too, applying your (lack) of logic.
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