First Orthodox Christmas in times of war, the Ukrainian Catholic community: ‘our hearts are elsewhere’
In the church of Borgo the mass for the Orthodox Christmas, the first in times of war, in the presence of the bishop of San Marino Montefeltro, Archbishop Andrea Turazzi, which he celebrated with the Ukrainian Catholic community of the Byzantine rite. There are mainly women and children, and it is precisely the impatient emotion of the little ones that makes the atmosphere feel festive. The most awaited one that the Julian calendar postpones- for the Catholic Apostolic Orthodox Church – to 7 January. Women, they tell us, have their hearts elsewhere: at home, at the front At Christmas the Orthodox usually offer candles and sprouts of wheat. Rites and celebrations that have always been celebrated in San Marino, by women who live and work here, but which this year is particularly felt: the Titano has welcomed almost 400 refugees and 120 are still guests within the borders, in families. There are 44 children in San Marino, and many today in church, immediately after the celebration, participated in a show that staged the representation of the nativity. A moment of peace and hope, against the background of a conflict that has been bloodying the heart of Europe for almost a year. “Our Christmas is above all spirituality,” he says Oksana Bazavliakwho curated the show with the children “This year in particular every person in this church has a heavy heart. We barely let him glimpse all our pain. Let’s hope for peace”
In the video his interview.