Calendar dispute splits OCU parish in Kosmach

OCU parishioners near Sts. Peter and Paul's Church in Kosmach on December 25, 2025 Photo: Suspilne

In the village of Kosmach, Ivano-Frankivsk region, a conflict broke out within the OCU parish over the date of Christmas celebration. Some parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church came to the church for the service on December 25, 2025, but were unable to get inside, reports Suspilne.

According to local residents, the entrance to the church was blocked by another group of parishioners who advocate for celebrating Christmas on January 7. They said that there were no keys to the church. As a result, supporters of the calendar reform stayed in the churchyard for more than five hours, but the service did not take place.

After this, the media writes, the faithful went to the cemetery, where they prayed at the graves of Ukrainian soldiers who died in the war, and then dispersed to their homes.

As previously reported, on December 18, a decision was made at a round table in Kosmach to celebrate Christmas in the church on January 7.

Then, according to the head of the community, Dmytro Mokhnachuk, it was decided that the church would be open on December 25, but the service on that day would be held without Christmas celebration. Meanwhile, the main Christmas service will be conducted on January 7.

A dissatisfied part of the parishioners went to Ivano-Frankivsk to the "Metropolitan" Arseniy of the OCU, who told them that Christmas should be celebrated twice – on December 25 and January 7.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that in Prykarpattia, three OCU parishes decided to celebrate Christmas in the old style – on January 7.

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