2019-01-07 11:12 update: 2019-01-07, 19:20
President Andrzej Duda. Photo PAP/Radek Pietruszka
President Andrzej Duda, on Monday, sent greetings to the faithful of Eastern Catholic Churches who, according to the Julian calendar, are celebrating Christmas. Earlier, he extended similar wishes to the Orthodox community.
Orthodox Christians in Poland and other parts of the world celebrate Christmas on or around January 7.
"On the occasion of Christmas, please accept heartfelt wishes for much success, prosperity and health, as well as peace and spiritual refreshment in the shared experience of this blessed time in families and parishes," Andrzej Duda wrote in his message to the Eastern Catholic faithful, published on the president's website on Monday.
"It is my wish that the beauty and spiritual dimension of the Christmas traditions that you cultivate will make your get-togethers truly special. May the unity of the festive table, cordial words and the joy of offered and received gifts, as well as the singing of carols strengthen your bonds. May an abundance of divine favours of the newborn Infant accompany you throughout the entire New Year," added the president.
Referring to the celebration of the centenary of Poland regaining its independence, he also wished that, in 2019, "all good that you do for your close ones, relatives, friends, co-workers and local communities will multiply for the greater common good, which is our homeland."
According to GUS statistics, there are over 30,000 Greek Catholics in Poland. (PAP)
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