By KYIV. Dec 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The common prayer of Ukrainians on Christmas Eve is “For our freedom. For our victory. For our Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Christmas greeting on Sunday.
In 2023, Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in Ukraine for the first time on December 23 after the relevant decision of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
The President of Ukraine noted that our gifts, values, and traditions have changed recently. “How today it’s not so much about how we decorate our homes, but rather how we protect them and clean up the mess, sweeping the enemy out of our home. How we rejoice at seeing the first star in the evening sky and not seeing enemy missiles and Shaheds in it,” he said.
“How our wishes have changed. How children’s wishes have changed. From the simple and usual ‘I wish for dad to come home early from work’ to ‘I wish for dad to come back.’ For all fathers, husbands, brothers, grandfathers to come back. Mothers, wives, sisters. To return victorious. All those who are meeting the Christmas Eve in the trenches with weapons in their hands, facing the enemy. All our warriors of light,” he added.
The people’s prayer, Zelenskyy said, will unite millions of voices – more than ever before.
“And this is a unique prayer. For people, for peace, for justice, a prayer for life. And today it will be heard in different parts of the world, coming from the hearts of different people, in different languages. And even from different denominations. Because this is a prayer for life, and it has no borders,” the President said.
Zelenskyy recorded a video message at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, which he called “a place of power for people, a source of hope and spirit for our people.”
“And in the end, darkness will lose. Evil will be defeated. Today, this is our common goal, our common dream, and this is what our common prayer is for today. For our freedom. For our victory. For our Ukraine. For the day when we can all come together at home in a peaceful year of peaceful Christmas. And say to each other: ‘Christ is born!’” he said.
