The OCU is also thinking about changing the calendar: when they make a decision
The UGCC decided to switch to the new style from September 1, 2023. At the same time, the issue of a general calendar reform of the OCU was submitted for consideration by the Council of Bishops.
This was announced by the Deputy Chairman of the OCU Department for External Church Relations Yevstratiy Zarya. He also recalled that the Synod of the OCU had already decided that communities wishing to switch to the new style can do so according to the appropriate procedure.
When the OCU considers the reform
It is known that the Council of Bishops will take place in May.
There is still time until September 1, when the new church year begins. In my opinion, as one of the members of the Council of Bishops, there are all the arguments and grounds for making a positive decision, while at the same time providing an opportunity for those communities who wish to preserve the previous calendar tradition, writes Zorya.
He also explained that such reforms in the past have caused problems where they were implemented “in the blink of an eye”, “from above”, without preparation and without the possibility of an alternative for those who are not ready to accept the new.
The OCU is sure that gradualness, considering all arguments, providing an alternative is the best option for introducing changes.
Dawn debunked the myths about the new calendar
Metropolitan debunked three popular myths against calendar reform. According to him, all these arguments against the calendar reform are connected with the Jerusalem Church.
Dawn also cited a historical fact: the Jerusalem church was the last to switch to a separate celebration of the Nativity of Christ on December 25th. Consequently, it took almost 2 centuries for the calendar reform to be accepted in Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, “they know something”, and their tradition is “more ancient”.
In fact, the metropolitan explains, the reason is completely different and prosaic. It's called “status quo”.
This is the order of the use of holy places and the Church of the Resurrection and the Holy Sepulcher that has been established over the previous centuries. As you know, they are divided between a number of Christian confessions (Orthodox, Catholics, Copts, Armenians) according to the time of use and space.
The status quo has developed on the basis of the calendar difference that arose back in the 16th century. If the Patriarchate of Jerusalem adopts the New Julian calendar, as all neighboring churches did, the problem of changing the status quo will arise, when it will be necessary to re-determine when and how to use the holy places on the holidays that fall simultaneously.
“Changing the status quo is a revolution. But no one wants a revolution. Therefore, the calendar remains unchanged,” the metropolitan notes.
“The Holy Fire descends according to the Julian calendar, so it is correct“.
According to Eustratius, the mythology around the ceremony of the Holy Light is widespread to a large extent in the Moscow Patriarchate. By the way, in Greek, no one calls the fire of Great Saturday – blessed.
The ceremony of the Holy Light itself takes place on Holy Saturday after Paschalia. It is observed by all local churches that have switched to the New Julian calendar.
Consequently, the calendar reform, according to the metropolitan, does not concern calculating Easter (and Great Saturday before it), therefore, according to the “old” and ” new” style – it will be the same day.
“On Tabor, the cloud descends on the Transfiguration on August 19, and the Jordan returns its course on January 19, that is, on the holidays according to the Julian calendar.”< /strong>
“Without examining even the most dubious possibility that such “calendar miracles” really happen, we must say that even if such a thing really happened annually on the same days, it would not be more logical to explain this the fact that it is on such days that the faithful celebrate? And not vice versa,” the metropolitan says.
That is, according to him, God shows a sign of his mercy on the holiday. Therefore, if they celebrate 13 days earlier , then these signs may appear during the celebration, and not according to the number on the calendar.
