Eparchy of the Holy Family in London switches to the Gregorian calendar
The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family, established in London, will switch to the Gregorian calendar on September 1, 2023 (the beginning of the Indictus, i.e., the new liturgical year).
In the Decree on Calendar Reform, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski notes that this decision was made “with concern for the spiritual development, the good of the people of God of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family in London and the enhancement of church unity with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, which announced the transition of the Liturgical Calendar to a new style from September 1, 2023, and in general with the church communities of our Church in the settlements.”
The document also mentions that before deciding on the calendar reform, the bishop had heard the opinion of the clergy and laity. “We have implemented it for the glory of God and the good of the people of God entrusted to our pastoral care,” the document says.
On the occasion of the calendar reform, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski addressed the clergy and faithful of the eparchy with a pastoral letter explaining his decision and calling on the priests to prepare the faithful for this change properly.
Following the decision of the UGCC in Ukraine to carry out a calendar reform, announced on February 6, 2023, by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the UGCC in Poland, Kazakhstan and Central Asia, Australia, and Oceania, as well as Germany and Scandinavia, also announced the transition to the new style fully or partially.
Even earlier, the Apostolic Exarchate in Italy switched to the Gregorian calendar, and gradually all the Eparchy of St. Volodymyr parishes with its headquarters in Paris.
The UGCC Department for Informationbased on the materials of the Eparchy of the Holy Family, London
