OCU Synod allowed to celebrate Christmas on December 25

The Synod of the OCU allowed, by decision of the rector and the community, to celebrate Christmas according to the New Julian calendar, that is, on December 25th.  This is stated in the decisions of the Synod of the OCU.

“In view of the numerous requests and in view of the discussion that has been going on for many years in the Church and in society;  assuming, in particular due to the circumstances of the war, the aggravation of calendar disputes in the public space;  in order to study the real church need for the implementation of calendar changes in the near future, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church of Ukraine) decided:

Where there are pastoral circumstances for this and the desire of the faithful is confirmed, as an exception, to allow, by decision of the rector and the community on December 25, 2022, to celebrate the service in the image of the feast of the Nativity of Christ, followed by the submission through the diocesan administrations to the Kyiv Metropolis of written information on the number of participants in such a service.

In the case of such a service, its participants on this day are released from fasting restrictions, ”the OCU said in a statement.