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.
ping
Russians are celebrating Christmas instead of Festivus and Quaanza!?!?! This is a disgrace! What about separation of Church and State? Jeeeez!
Bump!
What remarkable news. Putin is a surprise! A very good one, in this regard...
I am trying to imagine Nancy Pelosi commenting about Putin, if she was in Russia instead of the U.S.
Actually I did not see much of the kwansaa buu sh-t this year
Kwanza never caught on like the christmas hating liberals tried like crazy to get it too. Its pretty much a joke these days.
Watch out for this blue-eyed cobra Putin! Is he embracing Christian values? Just remember that Stalin revived the Orthodox Church for his own ends.
Russian Christmas is January 7th just like the `October Revolution' actually took place in November 1917, for the same reason:
They refuse to adopt the Gregorian Calendar, which corrected the inaccuracies of the ancient Julian Calendar.
You mean WWII opening of churches after Russians were not willing to fight for atheist regime?
"Just remember that Stalin revived the Orthodox Church for his own ends. "
And one of the most sacriligious events this past year was Putie sending the Moscow priests to Kiev to campaign against Yushchenko- when the poison didn't do the job.
You do not need Putin for the priests to take sides. Most of Ukrainian Christians belong to the Russian Church. Only in Western Ukraine Uniates/Catholics and some breakaway groups of Orthodox dominate. The center and east of church is firmly with Russia.
"Most of Ukrainian Christians belong to the Russian Church"
Wrong again - most Ukrainians belong to Ukrainian Catholic or Ukrainian Orthodox churches.
Did Moscow take control of many church buildings in the last century? Yes - but putting tits on my uncle dont make him my aunt.
You might be interested in this.
In eve of Stalingrad battle, Soviet Red ARmy soldiers were mass- baptised by priests, little known fact.
Ukrainians are half-Russians. In Ukraine allmost half of population is Russian, Don and Krimea regions. Communists gave Russian lands to Ukrainians after WWII.
On elections Russians woted against Yuschenko.
And for Putin, he is propagating Christianity, as same as Bellarus president Lukashenko. Interesting is that Lukashenko is trying to make mixture of Socialist economy with Ortodox Christianity.
Things would look much better if US president admited that Americans are Christians.
Sarcasm
In Serbia, parents make choice for their children, Civile class (human rights, tolerancy etc.) or Religion as obligatory classess.
So in Serbia`s state schools priests teach children about christianity. Former minister of ejucation, even tried to implement choice in Bioligy classess of Darvinism and Cretionism, but leftists destroyed her.
Yes, those evil Orthodox refused to Catholicize...how dare they?!?
Mr. Goebbles, welcome back. Is the Clinton spin team in Kiev paying you well? By the word?
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