Former MP Igor Mosiychuk, an opponent of the OCU and a supporter of Filaret, commented on Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to introduce a bill to cancel the celebration of Christmas on January 7th.

“Honestly, I have little idea why the president, who is not a Christian, imposes on me, an Orthodox, when I should celebrate Christmas,” Mosiychuk said.

He also noted that this issue is internal to the church, and the state equally treated Christians who celebrated Christmas on December 25 and January 7.

“It so happened that part of the Orthodox decided to celebrate Christmas on December 25 according to the New Julian calendar. This is their right. But it is also the right of everyone else, including mine as a parishioner of the UOC-KP, as the right of our Patriarch Filaret, to celebrate Christmas on January 7. And this no one has the right to take it from me. And it’s not clear to me if the president decides which holiday is more correct from the Christian ones – let them be all days working then. But no – then respect equally one and the other. Why are you interfering in Christianity, without being of our religion?” – added the official.