A group of young members of the Christian – Orthodox Movement “Valeriu Gafencu” calls on the Moldovans to celebrate Christmas on January 7, which falls on December 25 in the old Church calendar.
In a news conference at IPN, Vladimir Nani, one of the members of the movement, said the state should not become involved in the affairs of the Church. “Can the state decide when the Nativity should be celebrated? The historical and Church books answer this question,” he stated.
After Parliament decided to include December 25, when Christmas is observed according to the new style, in the list of nonworking days, the young people went to the Metropolitan Bishop of Chisinau and All Moldova Vladimir and asked him to confirm by his signature that the birth of Jesus Christ must be celebrated on January 7. “His Holiness refused to sign, arguing it’s not right to sign what is common according to Orthodox tradition,” said Vladimir Nani.
“What will we tell our children who will have two rest days, both celebrating God’s Birth?” asked another young man, Maxim Anbgaj.
The young people are invited to the Metropolitan Church on December 25 to have one more discussion on the subject.
