To avoid tie with Russia Christmas date changed from 7 Jan to 25 Dec. by Ukraine Catholics

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – The head of Ukraine’s Catholic Church has announced that Christmas will in future be celebrated on 25 December, the western Christian calendar date, rather than 7 January, associated with eastern orthodoxy and Russia.

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said the change had been asked for by the synod of bishops at a recent meeting, after the date became a symbol of a tie to Russia.

Recent polls have shown 90 per cent of the population in Ukraine is behind such a move.