In Kropyvnytskyi, UOC community switches to new calendar, OCU outraged

A UOC billboard. Photo: Hrechka

In October 2024 in the centre of Kropivnitskyi appeared a billboard with information that the Church of the Annunciation of the most Holy Theotokos, which belongs to the UOC parish, will celebrate Christmas on December 25 and Epiphany on January 6. Ivan Vereskun, a priest of the temple, said that the temple only switched to the New Julian calendar but continues to remain under the jurisdiction of the UOC.

In the OCU, the “archbishop” of Kropyvnytskyi and Holovanivsk Mark called it ‘slyness and deceit’. In a comment to the resource “Hrechka” he said: “They (UOC, - Ed.) live by old style but celebrate significant feasts by new style. This is mimicry under the Ukrainian Church but they remain the Russian Church in Ukraine. Some priests wear vyshyvankas, speak Ukrainian, declare the transition to the new calendar but continue to serve according to the old style, which is associated with the Russian Orthodox Church.”

According to the OCU representative, such advertising misleads people, creating a false impression that the church has transferred to the OCU.

As the UOJ reported, in 2023, Zelensky signed a law abrogating Christmas celebration on 7 January.

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