Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada legally enshrines celebrating Christmas on Dec 25

MOSCOW. July 14 (Interfax) - The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has changed the dates of celebrating the Day of Ukrainian Statehood, the Defenders Day, and the Christmas Day.

The parliamentarians voted for the relevant presidential bill at a plenary session on Friday, Ukrainian media outlets said, citing Verkhovna Rada member Yaroslav Zheleznyak.

According to the bill, the Day of Ukrainian Statehood was moved to July 15 from July 28, the Defenders Day to October 1 from October 14, and Ukraine will now celebrate Christmas on December 25 instead of January 7.

As reported, on June 28, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky introduced to the Verkhovna Rada the bill "On amendments to Article 73 of the Labor Code of Ukraine."

The matter arose after the non-canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine had made a decision to switch to the Gregorian calendar from the Julian one.