Moldovan Orthodox church opposes to mark Christmas on 25 December
The Moldovan Orthodox Metropolitan Church has called on authorities to recall their decision declaring 25 December to be a day off to celebrate Christmas, the public TV channel Moldova One reported on 11 December.
It is for the first time ever that the Moldovan cabinet declared 25 December to be a day off, announcing its intention to give this day the status of official holiday. At the same time, 7 January was declared day off too.
The Metropolitan Orthodox Church said that the decision aroused "bewilderment" among Christian Orthodox Moldovans given that both the Moldovan Orthodox Metropolitan Church (subordinated to Russia) and the Bessarabian Metropolitan Church (subordinated to Romania) act under the Julian calendar, according to which Christmas is celebrated on 7 January, the television said.
On 10 December, the private Infotag news agency quoted Bishop of Balti and Falesti (districts in northern Moldova) Marchel as saying that the government's "unprecedented" decision "breaks up the century-old traditions of the Moldovan people". He said that "although Moldova borders the EU, where Christmas is celebrated on 25 December, for the Moldovan people this is an ordinary working day", Infotag added.
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