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Polish president, first lady extend Orthodox Christmas greetings

06.01.2022 12:00
Poland's President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda have sent greetings to members of their country’s Orthodox Christian community as it prepares to celebrate the Christmas holidays.
Polands President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda on Thursday sent greetings to members of their countrys Orthodox Christian community as it prepared to celebrate the Christmas holidays.
Poland's President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda on Thursday sent greetings to members of their country’s Orthodox Christian community as it prepared to celebrate the Christmas holidays.Photo: Przemysław Keler/KPRP

In a message to members of “the Orthodox Church, the Greek Catholic Church and other Eastern Churches in Poland,” the Polish presidential couple said on Thursday that "Christmas unites all Christians, imparting a deep sense of community."

The president and the first lady voiced "great respect for the achievements of the Eastern spiritual tradition," which they said "holds a very important place" in Poland, "where the cultural heritage of the West meets that of the East."

"We would like to thank you for maintaining and developing this tradition, and we extend our best, most heartfelt greetings," the Polish presidential couple said in their message.

The Polish first couple also wished Orthodox Christians prosperity in the new year amid hopes for "a return to normalcy after the difficult time of the pandemic."

Meanwhile, Poland’s Roman Catholics were on Thursday celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany 12 days after Christmas.

About 93 percent of Poles declare themselves to be Catholics, according to statistics released by church officials in 2018.

The Polish president last month sent greetings to members of his country’s Jewish community as it celebrated the holiday of Hanukkah.

(gs)

Source: IAR, prezydent.pl