OCU Decided to Abandon the Celebration of Radonitsa

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) has officially abandoned the practice of celebrating Radonitsa on the Tuesday of Thomas Week. As explained by the OCU, this tradition «originates from the Russian calendar and is not indigenous to Ukrainian church practice.» By decision of the «Holy Synod» on July 14, 2024, a new regulation was adopted: the second week after Easter, starting from Thomas Sunday, is now designated as the «Week of Commemoration of the Departed (Provody).» This was reported by Religious Pravda.

The OCU also refers to the Ukrainian tradition of commemorating the departed after Easter, which varies by region.

«Most often, this commemoration begins on Bright Monday and continues until the Monday of Thomas Week. In some regions of Ukraine, memorial services are held during the second or third week after Easter, or on specific dates after the Resurrection of Christ,» the OCU stated.

It was also previously reported that Yurii Chornomorets, a supporter and media lobbyist of the OCU, religious scholar, and member of the «Sofiia Brotherhood,» claimed that Orthodox clergymen who do not have canonical ties with the head of the OCU, Epiphaniy Dumenko, have no right to operate on the territory of Ukraine. Chornomorets added that the head of the OCU should consider anathematizing all hierarchs and clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and demand their expulsion from the country.