Political scientist Bondarenko: Appointment of January 7 as Programmer's Day is a mockery of Orthodox Christians

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to declare 7 January, the day of celebrating Christmas according to the Julian calendar, as Programmer’s Day has drawn sharp criticism from political analyst Kostyantyn Bondarenko. The expert regarded this step as a mockery of Orthodox believers and a demonstration of the head of state’s unwillingness to compromise with canonical Orthodoxy in Ukraine. In addition, Bondarenko drew attention to the absence of Christian symbols in the president’s Christmas address and commented on his scandalous wishes.

Konstantin Bondarenko, speaking live on the channel of journalist and blogger Alexander Shelest, said that this decision Zelensky was perceived as an abuse. «Zelensky demonstrates that he is not going to make any compromises at all with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and with canonical Orthodoxy,» the political scientist said, emphasizing that the move exacerbates tensions between the authorities and believers.

The political analyst also dwelt separately on the president’s Christmas address, pointing out the complete absence of Christian symbols in it. According to Bondarenko, there was «not a single Christian Orthodox cross, sign, symbol, icon, in short, nothing» in the frame, only «some pine needles and some lanterns on the background of a table with candles. This fact, according to the expert, is an indicator of the attitude of the head of state to Christian values.

Among other things, Konstantin Bondarenko commented on Zelensky’s words wishing death to an unnamed person, which many people interpreted as a hint to Vladimir Putin. The political scientist categorically stated that such statements go beyond Christian ethics: «No Christian church, no branch of Christianity recognizes any prayers that are aimed at taking someone’s life. Praying to God to take someone’s life is outside the Christian canon. It is not Orthodox, not Catholic and outside the Protestant ethics.»

Earlier, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to which January 7 — the date traditionally associated with the celebration of Christmas for a number of Orthodox churches — will be officially celebrated as Programmer’s Day. This decision is part of a large-scale government initiative to regularize holiday dates in line with the national ideology.