OCU in Volyn celebrates Christmas because "Maidan stood for that"
The OCU in Volyn held Christmas services on December 25. Zinkevich argued that “the Maidan stood for that”, and those who celebrated in January “did not leave” the USSR.
On December 25, 2019, the representative of the OCU "Metropolitan" Mikhail Zinkevich of Lutsk and Volyn said after the “liturgy” at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Lutsk that those who celebrate Christmas in December are “true Europeans”, reports "VolynPost".
Reportedly, the “metropolitan” himself, explaining that he had been celebrating Christmas on December 25 for many years, nevertheless, decided to hold two services – on December 25 and January 7.
After the “liturgy” in the cathedral, Mikhail Zinkevich delivered a welcoming address to those who, in his opinion, were celebrating Christmas for the first time in Lutsk “like real Europeans”.
“Thank you all for having finally thrown off the old Moscow [yoke] with all its traditions – secular and religious, because there is the expression" a person has left the Soviet Union, but the Soviet Union has not left him". Today you showed that you are true Europeans in every sense of the word. It is necessary to overcome old stereotypes and habits,” said the “hierarch” of the OCU.
In an interview with 5 Channel, Zinkevich said: “If we went out to the Maidan for European values, then to celebrate Christmas on December 25th, as all of Europe celebrates, is quite logical. Therefore, I am glad for the Volyn people who’ve worked their way up to it."
We recall that earlier Mikhail Zinkevich, justifying his decision to celebrate Christmas on December 25 and January 7, said that “for the general order it is necessary that there should be a logic in the behavior”, because “there is no difference when to celebrate the birth of Christ – on December 25 or January 7 if you sincerely believe in His birth," and, "if you celebrate Christmas on January 7, much in our life has no logic. In particular, lighting the Christmas tree on December 19, a day off on December 25, a loud celebration of the New Year during Lent and the like.” Zinkevich added that the celebration of Christmas on January 7 is just out of habit.
