Calendar: a new page in the history of the UGCC begins today
On September 1, 2023, with the beginning of the new liturgical year, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church begins a new era marked by the transition to the Gregorian calendar. Henceforth, the UGCC in Ukraine will switch to a new style for fixed holidays while preserving the current Paschalia.
We remind that the Synod made this historic decision of Bishops of the UGCC in Ukraine at its 93 rd session held in Lviv-Briukhovychi on February 1–2, 2023.
Along with the UGCC in Ukraine, the UGCC in Poland, Australia and Oceania, Germany and Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, as well as the Apostolic Administration for Catholics of the Byzantine Rite in Kazakhstan and Central Asia have adopted the new style.
For its history, the UGCC has used the Julian calendar. Still, this decision means a gradual transition to the Gregorian calendar, which the Western Church and some Orthodox Churches of the world use. It will, therefore, contribute to the unity of the faithful of the UGCC in Ukraine and abroad. “And due to the temporary preservation of the old Paschalia, at least for our needs in Ukraine, we will be able to continue to experience the Holy Easter and the liturgical rhythms associated with it simultaneously with our Orthodox brothers,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav in his Pastoral Letter.
“We, along with our church community, believe it is the right time for a new liturgical calendar in Ukraine. It is the right historical moment for our liturgical conversion, for the modernization of our preaching and life renewal centered on faith in the Gospel of Christ through the liturgical dimension of our church life,” reads the Pastoral Letter on the renewal of the church calendar.
According to the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, starting today, September 1, 2023, all fixed feasts of the UGCC in Ukraine will be celebrated in the new style. These include Christmas on December 25, Epiphany on January 6, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on March 25, the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on October 1, St. Nicholas on December 6, etc.
The first major feast we will celebrate in the new style is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8.
Parishes that are not yet ready for this move have the opportunity to celebrate fixed feasts in the old style until September 2025, with the permission of their bishop.
It is important to note that the transition to the new calendar style is an excellent opportunity for every believer in the Church to deepen their understanding of the major church holidays since the main point of the celebration is not to recall old dates or memorize new ones but to delve into the meaning of the holidays, to understand what they mean and why we honor them on a particular day.
The renewed calendar for September-December 2023 is posted on the UGCC website.
The UGCC Department for Information
