Culture Ministry moves pagan holiday of Kupala following OCU calendar reform
A poster of the Ministry of Culture dedicated to the celebration of the Ivan Kupala feast. Photo: the press service of the Ministry of Culture
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine published on Facebook a "selection of events" dedicated to the pagan holiday of Ivan Kupala, scheduling them for June 20–21 instead of the traditional Kupala night on July 7.
"Kupala in Vitachiv" (June 20–21, the village of Vitachiv, Kyiv region), where the program features Kupala rituals and round dances.
The festival "Kupala at the Open-Air Museum" (June 21, Kyiv, 1 Akademika Tronka St.) included the "ritual of dressing Marena", a figure from pre-Christian beliefs, Kupala round dances, and a wreath-weaving master class. Another event, "Kupalskyi Pecherskyi Hurt" ("The Kupala Group of Pechersk"), features among its activities "weaving kikimoras," decorating the "Kupala tree," and a fair.
Kupala rituals involving fire, water, and herbs are of pre-Christian origin. There is no saint by the name of Ivan Kupala in Christianity, and Kupalo is the name of a pagan deity whose veneration tradition gradually merged with the church calendar on the feast day of the Nativity of John the Baptist.
The UOJ previously reported that, according to Ukrainian media, Ivan Kupala in Ukraine is now celebrated according to the new style of the church calendar.
Read also
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.
UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery
Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.