President Putin attends Christmas service at monastery in Veliki Novgorod
VELIKI NOVGOROD, January 7. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin is attending an overnight Orthodox Christmas service at the Spassky (St. Savior) Cathedral of the St. George’s Monastery in Veliki Novgorod. The monastery was founded by Prince Yaroslav the Wise back in 1030.
As a rule Putin leaves Moscow for Christmas, while on Easter he stays in the capital for a night-time service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Last year Putin went to a Christmas service in a rural Church near Voronezh. Before that he twice attended Christmas services in Sochi and a year earlier he went to a Christmas Service at a cathedral in St. Petersburg where he was baptized.
It’s a quiet and blessed Orthodox Christmas.
After the service President had a Christmas supper with the local fishermen.
“I am certain that this new year will be better than 2016,” he said. “Without your support, our success wouldn’t have been possible.”
A Blessed Christmas to all,
Scott
P.S. Frost hits Russia as Christmas is coming for Orthodox Christians (IMAGES)
С Рождеством Христовым! [Merry Christamas!]
In response to your P.S.: Got this humorous text message this morning:
“Под Москвой сейчас -35 градусов мороза!!! И, с*ка, как назло: ни французов, ни немцев, ни НАТО… Всё в холостую мёрзнет.!!!”
Translation: “In the countryside around Moscow it’s -35 degrees [Celsius] !!! And, , as ill luck would have it, neither French, nor Germans, nor NATO… Everything’s freezing for nothing!!!
Happy Christmas and hoping that 2017 brings a lessening in tensions and threats!!
Looking at the picture of VVP with the fisherman – is that a pen and paper? Keeps working
The pic of dinner with the local fishermen says it all: he’s clearly enjoying the ‘craic’ (fun) as we say here.
I note the fishermen don’t look ‘awed’, but pleased and their smiles are spontaneous.
Can you imagine Obama/Merkel/Hollande etc in this scenario?
Me neither. :-)
A very Merry Christmas to you Scott, the Saker and Baaz. Wishing you all a peaceful and blessed day.
Wonderful picture of VVP – sums him up – humble and happy to enjoy his time with local people – no airs and graces. This is why the Russian people respect and support him.
My sources tell me VV was in Nizhny Novgorod monastery for Christmas. That would charge up and lift the spirits of any non-talmudo-satanist. How much more so would it enlighten a practicing Christian like VV?
Christ is being born! Glorify him!
Whoops! Sorry. My source was right. Putin was in Veliki Novgorod. But I misheard ‘Veliki’ for ‘Nizhny’. Bad telephone line.
When the whole world media called false witness against Russia proclaiming “Putin’s missile” and all that garbage, Putin went to church. When Angela Merkel said Putin is living in another world, this is what she was talking about. Putin overcame the US/EU empire and won against the greatest empire in modern history. He blew through the mainstream media overcoming David versus Goliath odds in any sense of the word as we know it. A man of history. Merry Christmas to all!
who wanders into the vineyard, and enters the cafe on a cold winters day, Mary, Mother of the Heavens, Mother of Russia . . .
(15th century carol)
There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bore Jesu.
There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bore Jesu.
Alleluia.
For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space;
A marvellous thing!
By that rose we may truly see
That he is God in persons three,
Equal in form.
The angels sang to the shepherds
‘Glory to God in the highest’;
Let us rejoice!
Let us leave all this worldly mirth,
And follow this joyful birth;
Let us go!
Beautiful singing.
Thank you!