On 1 September this year, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine will switch to a new calendar for fixed holidays while maintaining the current ecclesiastical calendar.
This is stated in the Resolutions of the 93rd session of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC in Ukraine.
"Taking into account the numerous requests of the faithful and having held preliminary consultations with the clergy and monastics of our Church on the urgent need to reform the Liturgical Calendar of the UGCC in Ukraine, as well as taking into account the pastoral advice:
- The UGCC in Ukraine will switch from 1 September 2023, according to the new style calendar (the beginning of the Indict), to the new style calendar for fixed holidays, while maintaining the current ecclesiastical calendar.
- For those parishes or individual communities that do not feel ready for such a step (with the special blessing of the diocesan bishop), to leave the possibility of liturgical life according to the Julian calendar for the period until 2025," the Synod's decision reads.
Earlier, the heads of the UGCC and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) decided to create a joint group to reform the church calendar.
Last October, the OCU allowed its parishes to celebrate Christmas on 25 December.