Moscow, December 30, Interfax – The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church moved the traditional Christmas readings from January 2021 to May in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. “The participants in the meeting decided to postpone the events of the 29th International Christmas Educational Readings for the period from May 16 to 19, 2021, renaming the forum as the 29th International Educational Readings,” the final document of the Synod, which had an online meeting, said.
Thus, the annual Christmas Readings this time will take place during the Easter period.
“It is extremely difficult to hold the plenary session and most of the sectional events of the Christmas Readings in January 2021 in person if the current level of complexity of the epidemic situation remains,” the Synod said on December 8.
The topic of the upcoming Christmas Readings is articulated as “Alexander Nevsky: the West and the East, historical memory of the people,” since the 800th anniversary of the birth of the holy noble prince will be celebrated in 2021.