Since Moscow In 2014 he stayed in Crimea, which is part of Crimea. Ukrainian Orthodox tried get out of all russian orbit in a wave of full national reaffirmation. Now, a little over two months after a year war Launched last February by Russian President Vladimir Putin, this longing seems closerIt could change the face of religion in Ukraine forever.
The last part was the meeting they held last weekend Sviatoslav Shevchuk and Epiphanius I. The first is the leader of the group. Ukrainian Greek Catholicsrecognizing the authority of the Roman popes. the second is the head Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchateborn in 2018 one of the last breakups Ukrainian Orthodox, precisely to distance themselves further from Moscow.
The thing is, last weekend Shevchuk and Epifanio I met in Kiev for a meeting that ended with the announcement that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church would embark on a path that could result. Adoption of the Gregorian calendar by this religious group This is the calendar used today in predominantly Catholic Western countries, until now Ukrainian Orthodox old Julian calendar (named after Julius Caesar) Like their counterparts in Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, among other countries.
Christmas and Easter
The result of this is the beginning of a path that can be concluded. change the dates when major repeats are celebrated So the Christians, for example, birth of jesus (Christmas), which the Ukrainian Orthodox have ever celebrated January 7Catholics celebrate December 25. But the subject may change. easter celebrationwhose dates on the two calendars are also different.
This has not yet happened, however, because the only thing Epitafio I has decided to allow for now is his faithful they can choose to celebrate The birth of Jesus on both dates (December 25 and January 7). “We haven’t changed the Christmas date,” said Yevstratiy Zoria, spokesman for the Ukrainian Orthodox Archdiocese of Kyiv.
“We just give people the right to choose. to celebrate another day,” Zoria added, without fully clarifying the matter. the decision is based on the conditions of the war, as well as possible future changes to be adopted in the future. Actually, December 25 is already a holiday In Ukraine since 2017.
politics in between
The background, of course, is politics. So much so that at the beginning of December, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyproposed to ban The activities of the Moscow branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has been going on for centuries Responding to the Russian Orthodox Church. Zelenski even suggested that his office was already t.work on an invoice going in this direction.
It may not be that easy. Experts pointed out that there is already legal obstacles even at a time when this church is suffering a faithful bleed For the outspoken support of Russian Orthodox leader Cyril to Putin’s actions in Ukraine. And also as a result of criticism from the Ukrainian authorities, only last October announced the arrest of 33 priests accused of collaborating with Russia in the ongoing conflict.