Bishop of the Chisinau Church “Apostles Petru and Pavel” Petru Buburuz said the situation when the faithful in Moldova celebrate Christmas twice – on December 25 and on January 7 according to the Julian and Gregorian calendars – was created artificially in order to divide society. “We are at the intersection of two spheres of influence, culture and religion and wouldn’t have been in such a situation if we hadn’t had around such ‘friends’ who aim to destabilize the situation,” Petru Buburuz stated for IPN.

He also said that everything is dual in Moldova owing to the influence of two civilizations. “I think we must be together with the people of which we form part, but some use this to divide the population, saying we are Moldovans, not Romanians, and this is the basis of hatred between people,” stated the Bishop.

At his bishopric, 1,000 Christians signed to show that they want to celebrate Christmas according to the new style and the Divine Liturgy is officiated for them on December 25. They thus reached a consensus and there is no division between the faithful as they celebrate Christmas both on December 25 and on January 7.

Priest Eugen Onicov, of the Chisinau Church “Saint Pantelimon”, said we celebrate the event, not the date or day of birth of the Savior. “The date is flexible because it was fixed by the holy parents as a symbolic date to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. Those who do not understand that we celebrate the birth make speculations about the calendar and a particular date,” he stated.

According to the priest, there should be unity, but the people are regrettably divided at ethnical, geographical and religious levels given that there are Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Christians, while the latter are divided into Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian and other kinds of Orthodox Christians. “It would be right to unite and celebrate as our ancestors. In no other country do they celebrate Christmas twice. Those who give priority to God’s Birth fast during the seven days between the New Year and Christmas as this event counts for them. Those for whom the celebration of New Year and eating and drinking is more important observe Christmas on December 25, forgetting that they must start to fast two weeks beforehand,” stated Eugen Onicov.

He noted that as long as the Church, which is obeyed by most of the Orthodox Christians in Moldova, orders that Christmas should be celebrated on January 7, the churches comply.

The Christmas Eve services already started. On Christmas Day, the service begins at 9am. After the service, the parishioners usually listen to carols.