On the eve of the Orthodox celebration of Christmas on January 7th Russian President Vladimir V. Putin called for a 36-hour Christmas Truce beginning at noon on January 6th and ending at midnight on January 7th. Putin ordered his Defense Ministry to implement the cease-fire hours after Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill I called for a truce to allow Orthodox Christians on both sides of the front line in Ukraine to attend Christmas services.
Fellowship of Reconciliation, Christmas Truce in Ukraine
Light a Candle Light a candle for peace Join the silent vigil With friends, neighbors, strangers All who cherish the hope That even at this late hour The fighting can be averted And a new round of hatred May not begin in our troubled world. Light a candle in your home Join with your loved ones In their hopes for peace Let there be a moment of stillness When the hurly-burly is set aside And you are one with each other And with your brothers and sisters All across the world. Light a candle in your heart Listen to your inner voice Let go of some of your own ambition And perhaps you will find a blessing The fragile blossoms you thought were lost forever Are blooming again inside your heart And whenever darkness comes You have hope for the returning light.