In his congratulations to Orthodox Christians on January 6, Tallinn mayor Taavi Aas said he believes that January 7, Old Calendar Nativity, should be celebrated as a public holiday in Estonia, reports the site of the Tallinn city administration. “January 7, or the first day of Nativity on the Orthodox calendar should be a day off and a public holiday because the Orthodox want to spend their feast day honorably,” the capital city mayor said. “The Orthodox are the largest group of believers in Estonia, including in Tallinn, and we should respect their desire to be with their families on this day,” he added, noting that, along with Lutheranism, Orthodoxy is part of the traditions of the people of Estonia.

The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has about 200,000 parishioners in a country of 1.3 million people. Aas wished all Orthodox a blessed Nativity and expressed his hope that next year it will be possible to celebrate it as a public holiday. The same proposal has been brought before the Latvian parliament several times.

The city of Tallinn has proven itself to be a supporter of the Orthodox Church, donating more than $300,000 for repairs to Orthodox churches in the city. (Quelle: www.orthochristian.com, 10. Januar 2019)