Bishops' Council of Orthodox Church of Ukraine approves shift to Revised Julian calendar, Christmas moving to Dec 25 from Jan 7

MOSCOW. May 24 (Interfax) - The Bishops' Council of the noncanonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine has approved a transition to the Revised Julian calendar starting September 1, 2023.

"A decision has been made. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine approved an important reform at a Bishops' Council meeting on May 24, 2023: the transition to the Revised Julian church calendar shall occur on September 1, 2023," Ukrainian media quoted a social media post by Bishop Varsonofy of Uzhgorod and Zakarpattia.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine will now celebrate Christmas on December 25 instead of January 7, the Intercession of the Theotokos on October 1 instead of October 14, the Baptism of Jesus on January 6 instead of January 19, and St. Nicholas Day on December 6 instead of December 19. However, Easter will be celebrated in line with the common Orthodox tradition.

Ukrainian media also cited the Orthodox Church of Ukraine's statement entitling parishes and monasteries to use the old church calendar. "After the Church Council to be convened on July 27, 2023 endorses this decision, the general use of the Revised Julian calendar shall be introduced starting September 1, when a new church year begins. At the same time, parishes and monasteries wishing to observe the old calendar will have this opportunity. The calendar reform will be carried out without coercion, gradually and consciously," it said.

The Revised Julian calendar was adopted at a congress of Eastern Orthodox churches in 1923, initiated by Ecumenical Patriarch Meletius IV (Metaxakis) of Constantinople, who is also known as a church leader who supported the Renovationist Schism in the USSR.