London: Ukrainian Catholic Church to adopt Gregorian calendar

Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, London

Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family in London announced on Friday that the Church will be moving from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. This means that in future it will celebrate feast days such as Christmas and the Annunciation at the same time as Western Churches.

Earlier this year, the head of the Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, announced the decision in Ukraine. On 6 February, Archbishop Shevchuk said that the move followed "numerous requests of the faithful and…prior consultations with the clergy and monastics of our Church about the urgent need to reform the liturgical calendar."

At that time Bishop Nowakowski said that over the next few months clergy and parish councils of the eparchy would be consulting together to determine the course of direction of the Church here.

On Friday, Bishop Nowakovski, issued a decree saying: "In caring for the spiritual development of the faithful in our Eparchy and in order to deepen unity with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, which announced the transition of the Liturgical Calendar to the New Style from the 1st September 2023, as well as in conformity with our church communities in the Diaspora and after listening to the opinions of the clergy and laity of our Eparchy, the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family in London will adopt the Gregorian calendar from 1 September."

The decree states: "I instruct the clergy to inform and properly prepare the faithful for this important event in the life of our Eparchy.

"This decree takes effect on 9 June 2023."

"I did this for the glory of God and the good of the people of God entrusted to my pastoral care."

"Blessings of the Lord be upon you."