[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 7, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS

  Mr. GRASSLEY. On another point, yesterday, January 6, was Christmas 
Day for many Christians of the Orthodox faith. But during the Soviet 
Union--if you remember the history of the Soviet Union--Christmas had 
to be celebrated in secret, lest the communist authorities would find 
out and you would be punished.
  The godless Soviet regime encouraged celebrating the new year with a 
visit from Grandfather Frost, a secular Russian folk character, in 
place of ``Jolly Old St. Nick.'' In a repeat of history, ``KGB Dictator 
Putin''--now President Putin, supposedly--banned Santa Claus in 
occupied Ukraine. Christmas caroling, Nativity scenes, and any mention 
of St. Nicholas were reportedly banned in Russian-occupied Ukraine for 
fear of spreading Western influence. A video recently came out showing 
the Russian military shooting down Santa's sled over Russia to the 
praise of Grandfather Frost. This is a war on Christmas, communist 
style.
  In Russia today, religious expression outside of the state-controlled 
church is discouraged. And in Russian-occupied Ukraine, all Protestant 
churches have been closed. The head of the Russian church is a KGB guy 
who answers directly to KGB Putin. It is no wonder, then, that only 16 
percent of Russians say religion is very important to them, and only 7 
percent attend church weekly. It is also no wonder that most Ukrainians 
chose to celebrate Christmas with the West on the 25th, even while 
under rocket fire from Russia.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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