ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

**Church Calendar Reform in Ukraine**
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The church calendar reform in Ukraine refers to the process of introducing a new calendar system, such as the Gregorian or New Julian calendars, instead of the traditional Julian calendar used by Ukrainian churches.

**Background and Context**
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Prior to 2017, Christmas on December 25 was not a public holiday in Ukraine. However, with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar as a state holiday on November 16, 2017, the need for church calendar reform became more pressing. The transition to the new calendar has been accelerated by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022.

**Arguments for Reform**
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Some publicists and clergymen argue that the continued use of the Julian calendar in Ukrainian churches is a remnant of Russia's influence over Ukraine. By adopting the Gregorian or New Julian calendars, Ukrainian churches can break free from this perceived "Russian world" influence.

**Support for Reform**
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Both the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Metropolitan Epiphany, and the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Supreme Archbishop Sviatoslav, have expressed support for implementing the calendar reform in Ukraine. The Holy Synod of the OCU also endorsed the reform at a meeting on October 18, 2022.

**Implementation**
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The implementation of the church calendar reform has been ongoing since 2017, with the transition to the new calendar accelerating annually as Christmas approaches. The reform is seen as an important step towards Ukraine's independence from Russia and its cultural influence.