Putin attends Orthodox Christmas service by himself in Kremlin
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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on Jan 6, 2023.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday attended an Orthodox Church Christmas service by himself inside a Kremlin cathedral, rather than joining other worshippers in a public celebration.
Russia’s RIA news agency said it was the first time in years that Mr Putin had marked Christmas in Moscow rather than in the region around the capital.
State television showed two live clips of Mr Putin inside the gilded Cathedral of the Annunciation as Orthodox priests conducted the midnight service, known as the Divine Liturgy.
Many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan 6-7.
Mr Putin, wearing a blue jacket and a high-necked white sweater, was the sole worshipper and crossed himself several times before television coverage cut away to a public service in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral.
Mr Putin on Saturday praised the Russian Orthodox Church for supporting Moscow’s forces fighting in Ukraine in an Orthodox Christmas message designed to rally people behind his vision of modern Russia.
The Kremlin issued his message after he attended an Orthodox Christmas Eve service on his own inside a Kremlin cathedral rather than joining other worshippers in a public celebration.
In his message, accompanied on the Kremlin website by an image of him standing before religious icons, Mr Putin made it clear he saw the Russian Orthodox Church as an important stabilising force for society at a time he has cast as a historical clash between Russia and the West over Ukraine and other issues.
“It is deeply gratifying to note the enormous constructive contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations in unifying society, preserving our historical memory, educating youth and strengthening the institution of family,” said Mr Putin.
“Church organisations prioritise ... supporting our warriors taking part in the special military operation (in Ukraine). Such massive, complex and truly selfless work deserves sincere respect.”
Mr Putin, who celebrated Easter last year in the cathedral with thousands of others, also attended Christmas by himself last year in his official Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. In 2021, he took part in a public Divine Liturgy in Novgorod.
The Russian Orthodox Church backs the war in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow on Thursday called for both sides to observe a 36-hour Christmas truce that Mr Putin had announced.
In a service given to mark the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Kirill on Friday criticised Ukraine for cracking down on a branch of the Orthodox church with longstanding ties to Moscow.
Ukraine’s security service has raided property owned by the church and last month accused a senior cleric of engaging in anti-Ukrainian activity by supporting Russian policies.
“Let us pray for our brothers and sisters and let us believe that someday these diabolical temptations will recede,” said Patriarch Kirill, mocking what he called “the pathetic attempts” by Kyiv to destroy the church in Ukraine. REUTERS
