Russia's new holiday

[Jason H.]

I think this is awesome that Russia is doing this.

Wed Jul 28, 7:45 am ET
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia officially celebrated a new holiday on Wednesday marking its conversion to Christianity in 988, the latest Kremlin boost to an Orthodox Church that has grown increasingly powerful since the fall of Communism.
Rights groups have criticized the new holiday, approved by President Dmitry Medvedev in June, as undermining Russia's secular constitution and members of the country's large Muslim minority have complained that it excludes them. Marking the anniversary, Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, told state-run television: "Abandoning the historical significance of the baptism of Rus means discarding the supporting pillar of our entire civilization".

Kirill held a liturgy in Kiev, the capital of modern Ukraine and mediaeval Kievan Rus, whose leader Prince Vladimir converted to Christianity over a millennia ago and adopted it for his state. Kievan Rus is seen as the precursor to modern-day Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Clad in a flowing gold cloak in Kiev's historic Pecherska Lavra monastery, Kirill told thousands of followers: "Facing aggressive atheism and resurgent paganism we remain firm in our belief in God". The Orthodox Church is undergoing a revival in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union almost 20 years ago and Russia's leaders have endorsed it as the country's main faith. The Russian patriarch also presides over the biggest branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, although some Ukrainian clergy have declared themselves independent of Moscow and Kirill's visit to Kiev has angered some Ukrainian nationalists.

The trend toward consolidation of the church as a national force in Russia has worried its 20-million strong Muslim population -- a seventh of Russia's people -- as well as those who believe church and state should be strictly separated.

Medvedev on June 1 signed a law making July 28 a National Day, a state holiday that is also a working day. Across Russia, churches prepared to hold ceremonies and mass river baptisms in honor of the conversion.

Since Medvedev's law, Muslim lawmakers have asked for a national holiday to mark the arrival of Islam in modern-day Russia, which Arabs brought through the southern gateway city of Derbent on the Caspian Sea more than 1,000 years ago.

(Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov in Kiev and Amie Ferris-Rotman in Moscow; Editing by Peter Graff)

[Alexander Zhdanov]

When I came to work that day I found a message from our american colleagues. " Поздравляем Вас с днем Крещения Руси.

-- Все в Кливленде
"

The message reads "We congratulate you on the day of Christening of Russia.

- All in Clevelend".

It was very pleasant to me, though I did not know that such holiday was founded.

in Christ,

Alexander

[Evan]

Awesome. His enemies truly have been scattered!

In Christ,
Evan

[Alice]

Since Medvedev's law, Muslim lawmakers have asked for a national holiday to mark the arrival of Islam in modern-day Russia, which Arabs brought through the southern gateway city of Derbent on the Caspian Sea more than 1,000 years ago.

:-(
No further comment about this statement.

[Jason H.]

That is awesome Alexander!!!! If only America could hold such a "Holy-day" May one day the Truth of the Lord be revealed.

[Jason H.]

Ok, just to play "devil's advocate" if Russia is a free nation where all it's people are considered equal, why not allow for the Muslims to have their own holiday?

[Herman Blaydoe]

Well, there may be some sensitivity on the subject since Islam came at the point of a sword by invading peoples. "Invasion Day" is just not going to garner widespread support and most likely NOT become a government holiday at any rate.

Herman the invasive Pooh

[Jason H.]

"Invasion Day" *claps hands*

Yes, they might have a violent past in the Rus history, but it's 2010. If a "free nation" is allowed to declare one religion with a national holiday should it do it for all?

Now, acknowledging the lack of support that Christians receive in Muslims countries is disturbing and needs to be more outspoken about.

[Paul Cowan]

They are NOT in America. The same rules do NOT apply. That nation has every right to declare a national holiday religious or otherwise. Preferrably those religious hoilidays will always be Christian. Turkey has just as much right to declare a muslim holiday. If we want to keep countries promoting christian holidays, we need to help them stay Christian countries. Once they turn the corner, we never get them back. ie; Turkey.

Russia gets a bad rap in America. Perhaps it is rightfully earned, perhaps not. But they are more a Christian country than we are.

Paul