Kirill, the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus, has called for a 36-hours-long “Christmas armistice” with Ukraine, reads the website of the Russian Orthodox Church.
“I, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus, address all sides involved in the conflict and ask to establish a Christmas armistice starting at noon of 6 January and finishing at midnight after 7 January so as Orthodox believers may attend Christmas celebrations in churches on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” reads the address.
Most Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on 7 January, unlike Christians in Western countries.
Update
Vladimir Putin has ordered an armistice on the entire contact line in Ukraine starting 12.00 Moscow time 6 January and finishing 24.00 7 January, TASS reports, citing the Kremlin.
Kirill advocated for exemption from mobilisation for clergy in late December. Shortly after mobilisation had been declared in September, he called on Russians to unite in “spiritual mobilisation”.
“When warriors who defend all of our historic Fatherland sacrifice their lives and limbs, it is important that all our people be ready to help those in need in the name of the Lord. Now is the time everyone asks themselves a pivotal question: “What am I doing to help?” he said.