Putin celebrates Christmas at attended mass at the newly built Church of the Acheiropaeic Image of Christ the Saviour near the Sochi Olympic Park in the Imereti Valley. Security was extra tight over concerns regarding terrorism. Nearby an officer assigned to Putin carried the Chaget – the Russian version of the nuclear football.
According to a Kremlin news release, dated today President Vladimir Putin extended Christmas greetings to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
The message reads, in part:
“The joyful holiday of Christmas is dear to the hearts of millions of people. It gives us the eternal light of faith and fills our hearts with happiness and hope. On such days the efforts of the Russian Orthodox Church to strengthen the moral foundation of society and to retain our rich spiritual, cultural and historical heritage becomes especially visible.
I am sure that the comprehensive activity of the Church in education, charity and other equally important areas will continue to enjoy the support and understanding of the state and society” (source: Kremlin http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6494).
The Russian Orthodox Church, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th rather than Dec 31 according to the Julian calendar by the Russian, Georgian and the Macedonian church, the Jerusalem Patriarchate and Copts also celebrate it on this date as well.
Putin the other night celebrated Christmas, by attended mass at the newly built Church of the Acheiropaeic Image of Christ the Saviour near the Sochi Olympic Park in the Imereti Valley, according to Kremlin sources – security was extra tight because of ongoing concerns of terrorism and the personal safety of President Putin.
Nearby a military member of his entourage was spotted nearby carrying the “Cheget” – (“Чегет”) the Russian version of the “nuclear football” that contains the launch codes for Russian nuclear missiles. In context this was a very sobering thought. A nuclear football is the briefcase that can destroy the world…
The Cheget travels with President Putin everywhere he goes, 24/7.