Heads of OCU, UGCC agree to set up working group to reform church calendar

This was reported by the UGCC press service, according to Ukrinform.

"Summing up the past year, the parties discussed the current situation in interfaith and state-church relations in Ukraine, Russian aggression against our state, prospects for the development of Ukraine in the post-war period, and a number of other pressing issues," the statement reads.

It is noted that the primates paid special attention to the coordination of positions regarding the reform of the church calendar – an issue that gets higher on the agenda ahead of Christmas and Easter holidays.

After the discussion, it was proposed to create a joint working group, which should comprehensively study the issue.

"This working group should develop specific proposals for the heads and synods of both churches in the context of preparations for the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea in 325. At this Council, the calendar principles of church life were determined," the UGCC explains.

At the conclusion, the heads of the UGCC and OCU exchanged Christmas greetings and gifts.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Christians of the Western rite on Christmas and emphasized that this year, all holidays for Ukrainians have a bitter aftertaste due to the full-scale war unleashed by Russia.

Photo: ugcc.ua