REPORT – At Saint Volodymyr the Great Cathedral in Paris, Ukrainian Greek Catholics, who traditionally celebrate Christmas on January 7, have for the first time opted for December 25.
On this day of Christmas, rue des Saints-Pères, in the 6th arrondissement, Paris seems almost Ukrainian. On the forecourt of Saint Volodymyr the Great Cathedral, the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic parish of the capital, a crowd of faithful is gathering. Almost all Ukrainians, they celebrate for the first time the birth of Christ on December 25at the western date.
Greek Catholics, attached to Rome but of the Byzantine rite, are a minority (about 8% of the population) in a very predominantly Orthodox Ukraine. They traditionally celebrate on January 7, the date of the Julian calendar. But this year, the Christians of Ukraine, Orthodox or Greek Catholics, are celebrating the Nativity under the threat of Russian bombs and are more and more numerous to be tempted by the Western date, in order to mark their break with Moscow. In France, most Greek Catholic parishes already celebrated Christmas on December 25 for convenience with the rhythm of their host country.
The…
This article is for subscribers only. You have 87% left to discover.
Free to subscribe. Free to unsubscribe.
Keep reading your article for €0.99 for the first month
Already subscribed?
Login