Poroshenko records his Christmas address to the Orthodox in the UOC KP temple

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko who decided to celebrate Christmas twice, “together with Europe”, congratulated Ukrainians on Orthodox Christmas from Golden-domed St. Michael Cathedral of the Kyiv Patriarchate. A video of his congratulatory message was published by the President’s Administration.

"Christmas is the birth of hope for salvation, hope for peace, and hope for justice. This holiday is spiritual, but it is also public and social. For more than a thousand years, we, Ukrainians, have been celebrating this day in a special way," Petro Poroshenko noted.

"Everyone wants to say something joyous, everyone feels happy and full of hope. That joy flies from one person to another. Flashing like a star in the eyes, ringing with glasses, it can be heard in a child's laughter, said the head of state. It sounds in one voice, "Holy evening!". The tradition, which is so spiritually depicted in the holiday, still lives today."

"We keep our customs. They make us special and different from others," Poroshenko stressed.

The wife of the President Marina Poroshenko, in her turn, called to remember "with a warm word those who live in our heart", to thank parents, children, relatives, friends, and colleagues for being "together".

The President also chose the premises of St. Michael Cathedral of the UOC-KP to record his congratulation to Ukrainians on the secular holiday of the New 2018 Year.

It will be recalled that Mikhail Denisenko (Filaret) was excommunicated from the Orthodox Church and anathematized after which the Kyiv Patriarchate was created. The UOC KP is not recognized by any Orthodox Church.