Russia to Observe Orthodox Christmas
The Parliament of the Russian Federation, the largest Soviet republic, voted Thursday to make the Jan. 7 Russian Orthodox Christmas an official holiday for the first time since the 1917 Revolution.
Its decision came in response to an appeal by the Patriarch of Moscow and all-Russia, Alexei II, the national news agency Tass reported, and is effective only in Russia, which makes up two-thirds of all Soviet territory.
Ruslan Khasbulatov, leader of the Russian Congress of People’s Deputies, said other religious groups “will be respectfully considered in the same spirit” if they apply for recognition.
The Orthodox church marks Jan. 7 as Jesus’ birthday.
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