Non-canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine's Local Assembly upholds transition to Revised Julian calendar

MOSCOW. July 27 (Interfax) - The Local Assembly of the non-canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which is taking place in Kiev's Sofia Cathedral on Thursday, has upheld a shift from the Julian calendar, also known as the old-style calendar, to the Revised Julian calendar, also known as the new-style calendar, which was previously approved by the Bishops' Council.

"There is a final decision on the transition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to the Revised Julian calendar. Of the 161 delegates of the Local Assembly, 156 voted in favor of it, five voted against, and no one abstained," Ukrainian media quoted OCU priest Dmitry Shapovalov as saying in a social media post.

As reported, the Bishops' Council of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in May approved a transition to the Revised Julian church calendar from September 1, 2023. At the same time, it was announced that the Local Assembly would be convened on July 27, where this decision should be approved.

This decision preserves the right of parishes and monasteries to use the old church calendar, "Parishes and monasteries wishing to observe the old calendar will have this opportunity, and the calendar reform will take place without coercion, gradually and consciously," the OCU press service said.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) also announced a shift to the Revised Julian calendar from September 1, 2023.

The Revised Julian calendar was adopted at a congress of Eastern Orthodox Churches in Constantinople in 1923. It coincides with the Gregorian calendar, which is used in Ukraine as a secular calendar, on all holidays, except for the movable holidays such as Easter and those tied to it, the method of calculation of which remains the same. The Revised Julian calendar has been used since 1924 by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Romanian Orthodox Church and the churches of Greece and Cyprus, since 1928 by the Patriarchates of Alexandria and Antioch, and since 1968 by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Nowadays, nine out of the 16 local Orthodox churches use the Revised Julian calendar without taking the OCU into account, and three out of the 23 Eastern Catholic churches (including Greek Catholics) without taking the UGCC into account.

The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) follow the old-style calendar.