The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, loyal to Kiev, announced on Wednesday that it had decided to switch to the Gregorian calendar, which celebrates Christmas on December 25, to distance itself from Russia, Reuters reported.

Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Metropolitan EpiphanyPhoto: Maxym Marusenko-NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Before the invasion of their country last year, most Orthodox in Ukraine celebrated Christmas on January 7, as did other Orthodox countries that use the Julian calendar, introduced in 46 BC.

“This issue has arisen with new force as a result of Russian aggression,” says the message of the UOC on Facebook about the transition to the Gregorian calendar.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church loyal to Moscow has not yet commented on this decision. He officially severed ties with the Moscow Patriarchate last March, but the government in Kyiv accuses him of continuing to support the Russian invasion through many members of his clergy.

13 hierarchs of this church, which until last year was subject to the Moscow Patriarchate, were left without citizenship, accused by the Ukrainian special services (SBU) of treason or pro-Russian propaganda in the churches. Ukrainian law does not allow dual citizenship, and 13 allegedly also had Russian citizenship.

The Ukrainian Autocephalous Church distances itself from “Russian church culture”

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine announced the transition to the Gregorian calendar from September 1, when the liturgical year begins, noting that “today, the Julian calendar is perceived as related to the culture of the Russian Church.”

At the same time, she clarified that individual parishes will have the opportunity to continue to follow the old Julian calendar if they wish to do so.

The autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was recognized 5 years ago by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

A survey conducted by the Ukrainian government last December showed that 59% of more than 1.5 million respondents were in favor of celebrating Christmas on December 25.

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine previously spoke in favor of moving the date, believing that it “meets the requirements of our time and public opinion.”

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