Christmas celebrations in Lviv, western Ukraine, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE/MYKOLA TYS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wished all Ukrainians a merry Christmas on Tuesday for just the second year the country has marked the holiday on 24 December, aligning it more closely with the traditions of its western European neighbours.
Addressing the nation from the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, Zelensky, dressed in his trademark green, said, “For the second time in modern history, Christmas unites all Ukrainians. Today, we stand side by side. And we will not be lost. … In person, from afar, or in our hearts, Ukrainians are together today. And as long as we do this, evil has no chance.”
Accentuating solidarity as the country nears a fourth year of war, Zelensky continued, “This unity and warmth towards one another embody the true spirit of Christmas, the unique atmosphere we will preserve within ourselves and share with those around us. With everyone we love. With everyone who is family to us. And today, that means every Ukrainian. Merry Christmas to all of you!”
The Christmas address was set to an accompaniment of Carol of the Bells, which Zelensky called a Ukrainian gift to the world. The internationally renowned carol is based on the Ukrainian New Year’s song Shchedryk, the music for which was composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914. The song was first performed to western audiences in the US in 1922, and achieved instant popularity.
Leontovych was murdered by a Cheka secret policeman in 1921. Having trained as a priest, he is seen as a martyr in the Eastern Orthodox Ukrainian Church.
