RUSSIA: CHRISTMAS UPDATE - CHRISTMAS CELEBRATED OPENLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 70 YEARS

Record ID: 677452

  • Title: RUSSIA: CHRISTMAS UPDATE - CHRISTMAS CELEBRATED OPENLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 70 YEARS
  • Date: 7th January 1992
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JANUARY 7, 1992) ( REUTERS - VLADIMIR BOMKO) HAGV SOLDIERS IN TSARIST UNIFORMS IN RED SQUARE OUTSIDE ST. BASILS' CATHEDRAL SVS/CU SOLDIER ADDRESSING CROWD (4 SHOTS) GV TILT DOWN TO SV SOLDIERS LEAVING PLATFORM
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 1992 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA10GCIC9KBWWMYLR13R4R7TPAZ
  • Story Text: For the first time in over 70 years Russians were able openly to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas on Tuesday (January 7).

    The day was declared a national holiday and all government offices and services closed.

    Muscovites attended orthodox mass at the city's Yelokhov cathedral celebrated by the Orthodox Patriarch, Alexsiy the Second, who urged people to walk away from hatred and conflict and embrace one another.

    Later on Tuseday, the Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, attended a Christmas mass held at a Moscow Church. Celebrations were tempered by worries over the country's worsening economic situation, serious food shortages and ethnic conflicts in other former Soviet republics.

    Thousands also gathered at Moscow's Red Square to watch a parade by soldiers in pre-revolutionary Russian military uniforms followed by dancers in colourful costumes.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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