Orthodox Church of Ukraine officially approves transition to New Julian calendar

This is reported by Ukrinform.

The priests made the decision during the Local Council of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. It was held in St. Sophia of Kyiv.

When the transition to the new calendar will take place and who can refuse it

According to the OCU, in accordance with the decision of the Bishops' Council of the OCU, the transition to the New Julian calendar was determined from September 1 this year, while retaining the right to use the old calendar for parishes and monasteries that wish to do so. The general use of the New Julian calendar will be introduced after the approval of this decision by the Local Council.

"This is the decision that the majority of the faithful of our Church and the majority of Ukrainian society expect from us. This is not an easy decision, we have been coming to it for a long time, gradually, step by step, and we are making it carefully. But it is just as necessary as the decision to introduce the Ukrainian language in worship instead of the traditional Slavic language, to introduce an autocephalous system of church life instead of the centuries-old subordination was necessary. Not everyone accepted these decisions, not everyone supported them, but they were correct and vital. Similarly, the decision to switch to an updated calendar, which is more accurate astronomically and ecclesiastically, while preserving the traditional Easter, is also correct and vital for us," Metropolitan Epiphanius commented.

The OCU added that parishes and monasteries wishing to adhere to the old calendar will have this opportunity: "the calendar reform will take place without coercion, gradually and consciously."

Thus, starting from September 1 (the beginning of the church year), religious holidays in the OCU will be celebrated in a new way. In particular, Christmas will be celebrated on December 25, not January 7. Other holidays will also be shifted, such as the Intercession (October 1), Epiphany (January 6), St. Nicholas (December 6), and so on. However, the decision does not apply to Easter and other Paschal holidays, i.e., not fixed holidays, but those associated with the celebration of Easter.