From January 7 to December 25: Transition to the New Church Calendar and the Myths Surrounding It

Under the old style, Christmas was celebrated on January 7, but under the new calendar, it is observed on December 25 under the new calendar. This change has sparked heated discussions and outrage. In this article for LB.UA, we delve into why the OCU decided to adopt a new calendar, whether there is historical precedent for it, and debunk the main myths surrounding this transition.

From Caesar to the Pope: how church calendars have evolved

Opinions about Ukraine’s transition to a new church calendar vary across the internet. Some claim the change originated from Poles and Czechs, while others are outraged, asserting that the government is deciding for parents when to congratulate their children and is generally “stealing people’s holidays”. Both claims are false.

What led to the change, and is the decision to switch to a new church calendar justified? The answers lie in history.

Christian churches use three calendars: the Julian, Gregorian, and Revised Julian. The Julian calendar was created during the reign of Julius Caesar and was used starting in 46 BCE. It introduced an extra day every fourth year, known today as the leap year. However, by the 16th century, astronomers discovered that the Julian calendar was inaccurate, lagging behind the solar year by 11 minutes, which accumulated into a discrepancy of 10 extra days over 1,600 years.

As a result, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII, an astronomer and mathematician, introduced a new system for calculating dates. Ten days were removed from the calendar so that October 4, 1582, was immediately followed by October 15. This adjustment made the calendar, later named the Gregorian calendar, more accurate by aligning 303 ordinary years with 97 leap years.

Not all countries adopted the Gregorian calendar immediately. Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal switched in the same year. However, Russia and Ukraine introduced the Gregorian calendar only in 1918. The Russian Orthodox Church, which included Ukraine for a long time, did not accept the new date calculation system and retained the old Julian calendar for religious holidays and services. This tradition persisted in both countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union until 2023, when the Orthodox Church of Ukraine adopted the Revised Julian calendar for calculating religious dates.

Transition to the new style: a Catholic whim?

Some claim the Revised Julian calendar originated in the West because the dates of most holidays coincide. However, most Catholic and Protestant churches follow the Gregorian calendar. While they are similar, they have different origins.

The Revised Julian calendar was developed by Serbian astronomer Milutin Milanković. It is an improved version of the Julian calendar, officially approved in 1923 at a Synaxis of representatives from Orthodox Churches in Constantinople. The Revised Julian calendar resembles the Gregorian one, particularly in having the same dates for fixed holidays. However, leap years are calculated differently. The main change people will notice is that holidays will be observed 13 days earlier than under the Julian calendar.

Moreover, during wartime, switching to the Revised Julian calendar helps distance Ukraine from Russia, which uses religion as a tool to divide Ukrainians. According to Paul Gavrilyuk, head of the International Orthodox Theological Association and a native of Ukraine, this step brings Ukraine closer to Europe and the rest of the Christian world.

According to the OCU, 10 of 15 autocephalous Orthodox churches worldwide use the Revised Julian calendar.

Which holidays change under the Revised Julian calendar?

Another myth circulating is that birthdays will allegedly be moved, while Easter will remain aligned with Russian traditions. However, the first claim is incorrect, and the second is manipulative.

No one will change birthdays. The calendar change applies exclusively to fixed religious holidays. For example, Christmas under the Revised Julian calendar falls on December 25 instead of January 7, St. Nicholas Day on December 6 instead of December 19, Epiphany on January 6 instead of January 19, and the Protection of the Mother of God on October 1 instead of October 14.

The changes do not affect Easter, as its celebration date is shared by those who follow both the Julian and Revised Julian calendars. The tradition of calculating Easter is common among all Local Orthodox Churches. Furthermore, Easter is a “movable” holiday, meaning its date changes yearly. Other movable religious holidays include Trinity Sunday, Palm Sunday, and Ascension Day.

Is celebrating Christmas on January 7 now forbidden?

Absolutely not. While the church will celebrate Christmas on December 25 under the new style, no one is prohibited from gathering on January 7 or even celebrating both days. Similarly, there are no restrictions or rules about when to prepare gifts for St. Nicholas Day — December 6 or December 19.

Additionally, as noted by the OCU, communities where two-thirds or more of parishioners wish to retain the old calendar can do so.

Only Russians and their supporters systematically impose rigid rules, attempting to ban Ukrainians from celebrating Christmas or St. Nicholas Day on dates of their choosing. Kremlin propagandists insist on observing holidays according to the old style and routinely label new changes as “Washington’s religion” or “Western monopoly”. In reality, transitioning to the new calendar signifies a cultural break from Moscow, which does not suit Russia, as it seeks to maintain control over Ukraine.